Hi all; I hope you're doing well and having a great day. Well, we finally got Internet back at the house last weekend. Sorry it took me a while to get back here to update you. Actually, it's not that I've been extremely busy - quite the opposite, my schedule is finally freeing up and I've been taking things slower. And you know what? I've actually accomplished more in the past week WITHOUT STRUGGLE than I have in the past, oh, 10 months of frenzied activity.

Interesting, very interesting!

I think that a recent revelation finally helped me get into balance. Last weekend, it hit me out of the clear blue sky that I've been struggling so long and hard to wrap my head around so much and to push myself into adjusting to all of this change. But the fact is that joy, peace and contentment are things that you don't find by looking for them. They find you when you simply live and do things your best, and things that speak to your heart. The answer, it seems, isn't to force myself to adjust, but to simply live each and every day, doing the best I can and being true to myself, and the rest will follow.

I told a friend this Monday and she said, well yea, Sherri, that's exactly how it is.

As I realized this, I also realized I have a lot of things I need to let go of, from the pain of my grandparents' death 20+ years ago to my former workplace that I left 5 months ago. "Accumulated knowledge," as we call it at work, is ok. It helps us learn and grow. But a chip on your shoulder isn't. That's not cool at all - oh no, precious. There are things to keep and things to let the wind carry away.

I've let my life get too wrapped up in the drama of "have to's" and I risk losing some things I love if I don't reign it in and take back my authentic self. Yes, some of this change has meant that I had to change myself and my way of thinking, but deep down inside I'm still Sherri and I need to honor who God made me to be and and let the world see it again. I have in one way by entering NaNo. I love my writing and I'm so glad to have it back. I saw that the "busyness demon" was trying to take it away, and I aggressively fought it by writing that novel.

I need to make sure I have time each and every day to do something that speaks to me, be it writing, reading, getting back on the treadmill (which I have done this week), cross stitching, or whatever. My hobbies have been slipping away and I want them back. And I can have them back. There's no reason why I can't.

I've also been too hard on myself. Adjustment isn't something you can force. It happens by living one day at a time. And I'm going to do that now. I have to. It's the only way I'm going to succeed at getting my life back and taking control of it again. I will do my best and do what I love - things that I've always believed in and lived. This is true, no matter what else changes. I try to be a good steward of what I have.

So that's my revelation for the week. And with that, I'll be off.

Here's to living each and every day the best you can, and to the fullest!

Bye!
 

Hi folks; I hope you’re doing well and having a great day. It’s much adventure for me.

My sinuses are getting better, but it turns out that Rick has a pinched nerve in his back. Since getting the Christmas stuff out of the attic is a two person job, it looks like we’re going to be putting out the fiber optic tree that my parents have in storage. I’ll miss our special decorations, but I really don’t want him to even try getting on a ladder. He needs to heal. Thanks goodness I already have stockings for the birds taken care of. I think it will work out alright. I mailed our Christmas cards yesterday and hopefully, I can finish up our Christmas shopping for the family this weekend. That will be a great relief, and put me back on schedule – I guess!

Another bit of news is that we fired our therapist. It wasn’t working out, and with our insurance we’re free to change with no questions asked after January 1st. We found one that is much closer to home (and much more cooperative to our needs and schedules), so I hope that will work out. The one we had was ok for a while, but I think she was pushing us ahead way too fast – and sometimes, she just got off track and repeated efforts to bring her back didn’t work. So she’s fired and a new one is hired. It means we’re without one for about a month and I hate that. I still feel like I’m struggling with adjustment issues in my life and need some guidance, but this has to be handled in a way that is correct and right.If the old one wasn’t helping, it’s a waste to keep going. So I guess I’ll work it out and sink or swim for the next few weeks! I'm just glad Rick is going with me and we're working together.

I just want to move ahead. I want to see some good fruit for my efforts now. I think 2011 is a great year to strive for that very thing – good fruits in my life. And progress and forward momentum with my writing, of course!

The satellite TV is hooked up at home and is working out great but the Internet, well, we hit a snag. There are complications with the DSL line and our alarm system, and they can’t get a technician to our house until Saturday (hey, maybe HE can get in the attic – just kidding!). I send you this update from work, where incidental use is ok. So I'm having a silent evil giggle as I make this stealthy entry – cause I like you guys and want you to know I’m still around and ok. And actually, feeling better (emotionally) today! Just going slightly nutty without my Internet at home. AAARRRGH! But it will be worth it to have better speed and service.

I hope you have a good one. See you later.

Bye!

 

Hi all; I hope you're doing well and having good days. Sorry to be away from a while. After finishing NaNo, I found myself pathetically behind on holiday preparations. We're still not really where we'd like to be - the house isn't decorated, largely due to a packed schedule last week and a back injury Rick sustained yesterday - but hopefully we'll catch up. We did make some progress on Christmas shopping this weekend, so that's good.

I've also been researching some publishers to query for my novel manuscripts. The problem is that a lot of people are closed to submissions right now. I forgot - they tend to do that at the end of the year. I do hope they'll open again in January.

In other news, my sinus mess seems to be finally clearing up. I was just before going back to the doctor (again), but thankfully that postnasal drainage finally started to thin out. It's still there, but not as awful as it was in the days before Thanksgiving.

We haven't made it to the firing range the past 2 weekends, and I hate that. We just got busy and sidetracked last weekend, and with Rick's back injury this weekend he just couldn't do it. I hope we'll get back next weekend. We're thinking about going for a Concealed Weapons Permit, and we really need to practice. And I just enjoy going to the range.

The birds are doing well. I think they have the Christmas Fever.

Work is still busy. I think it pretty much will be for a long while, between license renewals being open now and both programs having to take things back through the legislature again next year. One program is moving forward with regulations, which are guidelines on how the law is applied. The other discovered a huge gap in their law and are going to have to get the statute changed - again. We're not too happy about that, but, well, we've gotta do what we've gotta do to get things right.

We saw the new Harry Potter movie last weekend. On one hand, it's the best of the series so far. On the other hand - if you're a The Lord of the Rings fan, you're going to be screaming "rip off!" a lot. Like that closing scene. I was like what the ... ? You didn't really just DO THAT did you? I wondered if I was watching Supernatural or The Return of the King. Hrmph. But The Chronicles of Narnia - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader comes out next weekend, so that will be good. I'll have to go see that at some point this holiday season. I read it, but I don't clearly recall it because it's been a few years. But I do remember that it was my favorite book in the series.

And finally, we switched from Cable to Satellite (specifically Dish Network). It really is cheaper. So far it's working out - we were able to get a package that allows us to upgrade our Internet and downgrade our TV package, which is great because we're online much more than we watch TV. In fact, we didn't turn on the TV at all 2 days last week, but we were online every day. The satellite is done, but the Internet is still in transition. In fact, it looks like we're going to be without home Internet for a few days - OUCH! But it's worth it to increase our speed and service. And at least I know, so I can drop in here and at Facebook to let folks know.

That's all for this time. A lot of rambling, but at least it's a blog update. I'm trying to get it all together and balanced again. Just when I was making progress on that front, the Holidays rolled around again. But we'll make it. We always do.

Bye!
 

Happy Thanksgiving to all! I hope you have a wonderful day and are enjoying it with those you love. Give thanks for your blessings, today and every day. The Lord is good - full love and mercy.

Good news - Rick completed our church website and got it loaded and posted this week. I'm so proud of him. Nine months of hard work and countless hours went into this. He doesn't want to brag but ... if you want to check out his work, it's at http://www.mttaborlutheran.org . He did such a good job. I'm so proud of him.

And more good news - I'm a NaNo winner! I validated "Splinter" this morning. The certificate is proudly displayed in our spare room/bird room/rec room. I'm SOOOOOOOO happy!

And last but not least, good news #3 - "Invalid Item"  won third place in the "Seasons"  Fall contest. So Zack and Chloe are winners too! We've got winners all around!

I just had lunch with the in-laws and will have supper with my folks. All in all, a good day and a great Thanksgiving.

I hope you're all having a good day! Happy Thanksgiving to all and I wish you love, joy, blessing, and inspiration today and every day!
 

Hi folks; I hope you're doing well and having a great day. I wanted to drop by to let you know that the complete rough draft manuscript for "Invalid Item"  is now up! Feel free to drop by and check it out if you have a chance. I know it's long, so read what you like, when you like. I wish I had more gift points to offer for rates and reviews, but I'm trying to save up for an account upgrade and as long as it is, I'd be depleted in no time!

I know the beginning needs strengthening, but I can work on that when I do my revisions and rewrites in January.

Ok, I best be off. Many cages need cleaning - let the adventure begin!

Have a good one. See you later.

Bye!
 

That's right, folks, you see the NaNoCounter properly. I'm done!

How, you ask, did I accomplish this in 15 days? I wrote like a crazy woman. And a 4 day weekend helped too. And all the lunch hours I wrote through.

Yes, I wrote like a crazy woman.

Stay tuned as I start posting chapters here. I know I said I'd hold off until I do a first edit but eh, what the heck? I'm gonna put it up! But not today. Frankly, I'm tired and it's long.

Whoo hoo! Splinter exists! After seven months of planning, research, and brainstorming, I have a draft. Thanks be to God!

Ok, I'm tired and I'm off. Have a great evening. See you later.

Bye!
 

Hi folks, I hope you're doing well and having a great day. I had today off for Veteran's Day, so of course I did what any good writer does with a day off - I wrote! Over 8,000 words to be exact. Whew! But I'm going to the Christmas Craft Show with Mom tomorrow (hooray! I so love that!) so it's a good thing to pull ahead. I don't plan to write at all tomorrow.

And just for you, for being so kind and supportative of me in my writing blitz and telling me not to feel bad over the birdy mix-up (seems they have forgiven me, and ample popcorn has helped), here's another excerpt from my novel-in-progress, "Splinter." Enjoy!

Excerpt:

“Clear!” Amelia shouted.

Leigh jolted, rising out of the bed and dropping back.

“There’s a dark matter mass around her neural chip!” Dr. Farver shouted. “I’m also showing dark matter in her heart and lungs. I’m not sure if that will work!”

“I don’t care! Recharge!”

“Dear Father, please forgive Leigh for her sins and purify her spirit …” the priest read from his prayer book. He had been called in when Derek was sedated and Leigh passed out.

“Charging,” Dr. Farver said. The table whined until it reached a shrill peak.

“Clear!” Amelia shouted.

Leigh jerked again. This time, she coughed and gasped for air.

“The dark matter in her heart and brain are breaking up, but it’s still in her circulatory and respiratory systems.”

“We pray that you will find her works in this world acceptable and right for Your purpose …” the priest continued.

“Erect a stasis field and pump in oxygen.”

“Dr. Eaton, if I pump in oxygen while you’re in there, you could pass out.”

“Then pick me up!” Amelia shouted. “Do it! Before we lose her!”

The air crackled and hissed as the field went up and oxygen flooded the area around Leigh’s bed. She sat up straight, coughing and gasping for breath. She looked around for the voice of the priest, shocked to find him buried in a prayer book reading her Last Rites.

“Into Your spirit we comment Leigh, praying for your mercy …”

“Father!” Leigh shouted.

The priest stopped short at her sharp voice. He dropped his prayer book when he saw her sitting on the table.

Leigh smiled. “I’m not done yet!”

He smiled and raised his hands. “Praise God! Your faith has made you well!”

Leigh looked around the room. “Faith, or fate. Perhaps both.”

“What do you mean?” Amelia asked.

Leigh sighed, allowing the oxygen to push the dark matter out of her mind and body. “I know why Earth died.”

 

Hi all; I hope you're doing well and having a great day. I'm plugging along with "Splinter" and am happy to report that I'm at 19,308 words and it's really unfolding! I'm so excited about it.

The only thing is what a big writing project does to my brain. Every time I write a novel, I say or do something incredibly stupid. Remember when I wrote "Anywhere But Here" earlier this year and didn't recognize Eric Clapton? Well, I beat myself today. I put the wrong birds in the wrong cages. And left them there for about 15 minutes.

Long story short - Rick went to work in the garage, so I had Chloe on one shoulder and Zack on the other. They started to squabble while I was at a pretty intense point in a chapter, so I decided it was cage time. I marched them across the room and proclaimed cage time.

The only problem - I put Zack in Chloe's cage and Chloe in Zack's cage. But you know what? They didn't protest at all! Chloe hopped on Zack's swing and Zack hopped on her pretty pink perch. I didn't realize my error until 15 minutes later when Zack got hungry and started throwing Chloe's seed all over the floor of her cage - which caused her to panic, flutter and scream.

Oops. Boy, do I feel like a first class idiot. One day, they'll find a name for what's wrong with me!

So, my writing for the day is done (I accomplished my writing goals for the day anyway) and now I have two birds to comfort and food bowls to refill. Oliver is just sitting in his cage right now, singing here and there. He's probably thinking "Thank God I don't come out much!"

That's all for today. I shall endeavor to balance common sense with creativity better for the duration of this particular adventure.

I hope you have a great day. Take care and I'll see you later.

Bye!
 

Well you've got it!

Hi folks; I hope you're doing well and having a great day. Since my life is a happy whirlwind of work, life, and noveling, I don't have much to report. So tonight, I give you an exercpt of my NaNo novel in progress, titled "Splinter."

Here are some of the basics: The year is 3001, and the setting is Jovan I, a space station orbiting Jupiter. Dr. Leigh Lybrand is a geophysicist assigned to the station to assist with research and development of human habitats on Jupiter's moons of Europa and Gandymede. At this point, they've just arrived at the station and, as they proceed through the docking tube, Leigh notices something out of place - in space.

The other character mentioned in the excerpt is Amelia Eaton. She's a psychiatrist assigned to the medical team on Jovan I. She and Leigh met on the flight from Earth. Dr. Rosemblume is a doctor that was already on the station - she was sent to guide the crew through processing into the station.

And yes, they are wearing space suits at this point.

Without further ado, I give you an excerpt from "Splinter." Please bear in mind that this is an extremely rough draft. Enjoy!



The line proceeded slowly through the long tube as people marveled at the amazing sights of outer space – Jupiter above them, the moons to the side, they could even see the sun in the distance. Leigh squinted as she saw what looked like a streak of fire speeding toward them. She stopped and pointed. “What’s that?” she asked.

The line stopped as Dr. Rosemblume approached her position. Sure enough, a firey streak floated through space, rippling and flashing through the void of space. Flashes erupted as streak passed by asteroids, and other objects in it’s path.

Like planets.

“Holy God, that’s a CME!” Leigh shouted.

“A CME?” Amelia asked. “What’s that?”

“A coronal mass ejection from the sun,” Leigh said. “It’s a huge solar flare.” She paled and turned to Dr. Rosemblume. “Do you have a safety area on the station that’s shielded from radiation?”

Dr. Rosemblume nodded. “We do, but shouldn’t Jupiter’s magnetosphere protect us?”

Leigh turned toward the streak that seemed to grow as it passed through space, burning everything in it’s path. She recalled the saying that she learned in church school.

The first time man died by water. The second time man dies by fire.

The station vibrated as the front edge of the CME approached Jupiter’s magnetosphere. Fire spread in an arc right in front of their faces.

“It’s not just a solar flare. It’s Armageddon.” She turned to the shocked faces behind her. “Run! Now! Everybody in the station!”

The corridor erupted in screams and bodies rushing for the door as the flame spread in an arc around the station, surrounding them with fire.
 

Hi all; I hope you're doing well and having a great day. Yes, you see my Nano Counter right. I pounded out 4,000 words today! Wow!

Now that's not bad considering I also worked all day, bought groceries on the way home, and talked to a friend on the phone. My secret? I took my laptop to work with me. I wrote 2,000 words during my lunch break and the other 2,000 just now.

"Splinter" is coming along, but I do believe it will be a bit too rough to post here upon completion of the rough draft. I already know the beginning needs a lot of work. But that's ok. I'm getting it out, and that's the important thing. It's picking up too. So look for it to appear in my port probably in late January or early February. But no worries - you'll get to read it. In fact, I'll need your comments and feedback.

Sorry for the short entry, but that's all for today. My brain just launched for Jupiter so, well, I'm not really altogether here now.

By the way, for those of you that have mid-term elections tomorrow don't forget to get out there and vote! I am.

Best of luck to my fellow NaNo participants, and to all writers creating new work out there. Have a good one.

Bye!