Hi all; I hope you're doing well and having a great day. My weekend just got a little longer - we have a snow day!

Frankly, I can't believe it. This is the second time it's snowed since Christmas. It's unbelievable to have it once a year around here but twice in less than a month? This may be a sign of the Apocolypse.

I'm just kidding, of course. And yes, we did prepare over the weekend - got groceries, got cleaned up, paid bills, tied up all the loose ends we could and, of course, did edits on "Invalid Item" . Hey, I'm a writer. What did you expect?

I know this winter storm has hit a lot of people, and I hope you're all doing ok.

That's all for now. I hope you have a good one.

Bye!
 

Hi folks; I hope you're doing well and having a good week. One more day left until the weekend - not bad at all.

I'm moving right along and am happy to report that so far, 2011 is going good. We saw our new therapist Tuesday, and I really like him. In fact, this is more of what I had in mind. He has a talent for seeing how things are connected across areas of life, which is just what I need.

Work is going well. Pretty smoothly, actually, which is good. It was painful to get up early and go back to the office after 10 days of freedom, but I have to admit that it wasn't as hard as it was going back to my last office. That says a lot, if you ask me!

The last couple of days have been busy, but I was able to get back to editing my manuscript tonight. I also did some work for my upcoming committee meeting at church.

I ordered a couple of books online at Barnes & Noble with a gift card I got for Christmas last week, and they finally arrived today. I don't know what took them so long, but I'm glad they're here. One's a reference book about getting published, so I'm looking forward to starting on that one during my lunch break tomorrow.

The only bad thing is that I felt a cold coming on me yesterday. I started using those Zicam chewables and I am feeling better today, but sometimes that only wards it off for a few weeks. We'll see if I kick this thing or if it comes back to kick me, I suppose. But that also means I'm off the treadmill until I feel better, which is bad because I was only able to get on it once before this hit me. Aargh!

That's all for now. Pretty dull, routine stuff, but that's ok. After last year, I have a new and profound appreciation for the dull routine of life.

I hope you have a Happy Friday tomorrow. Take care.

Bye!
 

Hi all; I hope you're doing well and having a great day. I also hope that the holiday season was a good one to you. It was pretty much average for me, so I really can't complain.

As part of my effort to blog more regularly and to improve the tone of this blog, I'm back again. Ok, I actually have been doing that research on improving my writing and submission techniques, and one suggestion was to blog more regularly. They suggested at least three times a week. I used to do that and believe it would be a good thing to do again.

So here I am. I have one more day off work tomorrow. They have to give us the New Year holiday in the new year - something about how many paid holidays per calendar year we're allowed, so I have tomorrow off for New Year's Day. Not a bad deal for me, but Rick has to go back tomorrow so it will be me and the birds. I'll probably spend the day making sure I'm all caught up on chores and errands so I won't get hit head-on with a crazy schedule right after that nice week and a half off.

Man, it's hard to go back after a long break. But I do believe it's done me some good, emotionally especially. I do feel much better about life and myself now. I think the time off gave me a chance to do some serious reflecting and to see how I can get things back in balance and on the right track.

In 2011, there are 2 things I'd really like to do. First is to focus much more on my writing. I want to write more, submit more, and hopefully improve and get published. Second is that I need to find better balance in my life. I have a tendency to pile up all of my work/chores/errands on certain days and "goofing off" on other days. I think I can spread it out a bit better and that if I work at a more even pace, then I'll accomplish more without feeling so stressed out and frenzied. Because the whole point of better balance is to have less stress, and God knows we all need less stress.

Anyway, that's where it's at. Today, I did get a few things around the house done and started my rewrites and revisions to "Invalid Item" . I only did 3 chapters, but that's ok. I wrote it in such a frenzy that I think I need to take my time in going back through it. Hopefully, I'll be able to get that first go-through done by mid-month. We'll see.

Ok, that's all for today. I hope you have a good evening and that you have a great start to the first week of 2011.

Bye!
 

Hi folks; I hope you're doing well and are off to a great start to the new year. It starting on a Saturday doesn't hurt!

So, I suppose yesterday's entry told you everything I thought about 2010. Yea, it was a bad year, but I suppose I should be fair and acknowledge the good that came out of it. I got 2 new birds, the house is coming along, and I completed one manuscript novel and started another one, which was a 2010 NaNo Winner. So ok, I humbly admit that some good came out of it.

I believe that New Year's Day is a good time to take stock. Of course, I have my "resolution" to strengthen my writing and submission techniques, and to learn how to market my writing and myself better. I wonder if this is really a "resolution" per se or just a rededication to a goal set long ago (like 10 years ago ...). Whatever it is, the point is to get on track and improve. And so I shall. I've already done some reading and believe that I have some ideas on how to spruce things up a bit. First, it seems, I really need to focus on what I want published first and foremost and make sure they're really polished and tight. Seems those first 3 pages are critical to editors/publishers. It looks like I need to narrow down which pieces to focus on and zoom in on them.

So there's that. And truth be told, I can see that my attitude probably could use a sprucing up too. Well enough. You heard enough tirades from me last year, and I am happy to report that I'm tired of that and ready to move on. Mo doubt, it's cost me some blog readers, but hopefully my increased level of activity here at WDC will bring some back to my port.

As part of this endeavor, I'd like to share with you a realization I recently had. This is truly the stuff blogs were made for ...

As I was pondering how to tighten up some pieces that I'd really like to get published, I realized that I've inserted some family names from Mom's family in my work. This has been done on purpose. Several generations of all girls in Mom's family has resulted in many of the old family names on that side dying out, so I'd "borrow" them for my characters. Most recently was the naming of Leigh Lorene Lybrand in "Invalid Item"  My grandmother's name was Lorene Lybrand. I really doubt I'd get sued, as she passed away 23 years ago and Mom has no issue with it (I think she finds it flattering). Thing is, Lorene is an old name and I didn't think that would fly as a realistic name, even in the year 3001, so I decided to use Lorene as her middle name and refer to her as Leigh, which is a name from the Bible that I've always liked.

So I'm thinking of edits to this piece recently when the realization hit me that Lorene was my grandmother's middle name. She went by it because her first name was Ollie.

I asked Mom about this and she verified that indeed, NaNa's name was Ollie Lorene. She was named after her father (my great grandfather), whose land we built on in 2007.

I know you're scratching your head saying "so what?" So what is this:




Yep, this little fellow that we adopted last June. We named him Oliver, after the Green Arrow on the Justice League and Smallville. But since they call that character "Ollie" on the show, we started calling the parakeet Ollie. It seemed a cute, birdish name to us.

So I have a parakeet with the same name as my grandmother and great-grandfather. Oops. I really thought I was being unique here.

As it is, Rick thinks it's kind of cool it happened this way. And anyway, we aren't changing the bird's name. We've been calling him Ollie for 5 months so - he's Ollie. I suppose if we went back in our families far enough, we'd probably find a Zack and Chloe as well. If we looked. Which I won't.

Isn't life funny?

And with that crazy coiencidence, I will leave you. I hope you have a great day. Happy New Year to all!

Bye!
 

Get out of here. I've been to hell and back this year and frankly, I don't appreciate it. Yes, I've learned a great deal and I've grown a lot. But you didn't have to beat the living crap out of me to get the point across.

Come midnight, we can start a fresh new year or stare down the barrel of a void. It doesn't matter to me as long as you're gone. In fact, I can't think of anyone you've treated particularly kindly. At least you were equally hateful and b**chy to all. If I could, I'd salt and burn your miserable bones to make sure you don't haunt anybody ever again.

I know this is harsh, but when it comes to this year, I'm done even trying to play civil. Yes, I do have a bad attitude toward 2010 and with good reason. This very blog is full of proof. 2011 will surly have more grace and kindness than you, miserable wretch that you've been.

So just go, before it gets ugly.

I hope you burn,

Sherri
 

Hi folks; I hope you're doing well and having a great day. Well, it seems this time off work has given me some perspective. All this time, I thought I lost myself when the truth was that I was here all along. I was just confused.

Yes, I've been through a lot of change. But since I've stopped trying to wrap my head around it all and have finally realized what I need to keep and what I need to let go of, I realize that I was never really lost - I was just confused. Thankfully, some time out of the pit of chaos has given me some perspective to see a bit more clearly what it all means - or could mean, anyway.

I think I needed something radical and outrageous to rewrite my life so I could realize some things. Like the fact that I am what I am, no matter what. None of this change has fundamentally changed who I am. I'm still Sherri. That is, always has been, and always will be. Like Q said in the series finale of Star Trek - The Next Generation: "Who you are, who you were, and who you will be will always be with you." Sure, I've learned some things, and I've had to adjust my own thinking and mindsets about some things. That's natural and truthfully, I can see in retrospect that I really needed it. As I said in a previous entry; accumulated knowledge is ok, but a chip on your shoulder isn't. There are some things that you really need to leave in your past and not drag through time like an anchor (that, by the way, is from Star Trek - Deep Space Nine - awful episode but I got one good quote out of it). Everything I've experienced has contributed to the person I am, and my recent experiences are no different. And, I do believe, they have a reason.

Another reason I say I needed something to kick me in the seat of my pants is that I had become too complacent. I was in a rut, like it or not, and I got so comfortable in that rut that I wasn't really doing anything to get out of it. I was willing to stay right there and roll along, believing that things would come when the timing was right. Now don't get me wrong - I do still firmly believe that there is a right timing for everything. But I wasn't exactly doing all I could to help things along, if you know what I mean.

I discussed in my last entry that I realized I got too focused on developing my writing and slacked off on promoting it, and myself. I think another problem here was that I didn't believe in my writing. I believed in my non-fiction, and it got published, fairly regularly. But I didn't really believe in my ability to write fiction, and that's when I stalled. On some deep level, I didn't believe my work was good enough to be published, so I just didn't push it, thinking I needed to grow and learn as a writer. Ok, that was true - 4 years ago. I think I've got it now. I believe that my work is publishable and I'm willing to stand by it. It IS good enough. I was holding myself back but no more. It's time to brush up on my submission/promotion skills and start kicking on some doors!

If I can help write regulations with board and council members (along with my own staff) picking it apart then dang it, I can write a book. If I can sit in Senate Subcommittee and Committee meetings then I can promote my work. If I can uproot two licensure programs, walk in a new agency, and start working with them to integrate these 35 year old programs from day 1, then I can resurrect my writing and get it off the ground and into print. I just need to open my mind and myself to avenues for publication that I may not have considered before.

Yes, 2010 has been a hell of a year, but I've learned a hell of a lot - about my life and myself. I finally saw The Chronicles of Narnia - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader today and one quote really stuck in my head - it's when Aslan told Lucy "don't wish youself away." Well, I'm not. I am who I am by the grace of God, and I will rise to what I'm meant to be. I can do this. I've been doing it in my professional life this past year, and it's time to take it to my personal life. I'm still standing and I've seen strength in myself that I didn't know was there. If I've seen other dreams through, then I can see this one through. It's time to do my part. It's time to stand.

Was I lost? I don't know. I know I was confused and that caused me to lose sight of myself for a time, but I don't feel that way anymore. There's still plenty of life ahead, folks, and it seems I have stuff to do.

So 2010 has some hard lessons, but I've learned them. No doubt, I will continue to learn but in the meantime, bring on 2011!

Bye!
 

Hi all; I hope you're doing well and that you had a very Merry Christmas. It went well for me - pretty much as usual, which is good. No complaints on my part.

So now that Christmas is past, it's time to reflect on those famous New Year's Resolutions. Ah, resolutions. I've been pondering this and realize why they often fail - it's because you really and truly have to not only believe in them, but be invested in them. The problem is that we only have so much energy, and more often than not, that energy gets sucked into the drudgery of day to day living, leaving us with little for personal pursuits. It's easy to let the "musts" of everyday living drown out our ambition and wishes.

Well, no more. And in pondering this for my own life, I realized something. I looked in the mirror and realized that I was looking at the person responsible for my writing stalling out. I've been taking a too passive approach. I hoped that I could hole up behind my laptop and that my work would speak for itself, leading me to someone that would help me learn the business end of writing and help me get up off the ground.

How stupid of me. You'd think that I, of all people, would know that Superman isn't going to swoop in and save the day for me.

Now don't get me wrong. I did need to learn how to write, and to get my writing to a level where it's publishable. But the truth is that once Battleground Earth got published (almost 7 years ago!) and I got some short stories out there, I kind of leaned back on my laurels. I wasn't working as hard to market myself. This is something I must correct.

I'm serious about wanting to be a published writer again, and that means that I need to get on top of things. I can't just write; I have to learn to promote my work and, in turn, myself. So my one and only resolution for 2011 is to educate myself on promoting my work and getting it "out there." I need to broaden my horizons and consider all options of getting my work out there - contests, magazines, websites, whatever it takes to get published again.

I know the economy is down, but other people are getting published so it's not impossible. I just need to get smarter and more aggressive about getting my work "out there." In a way, I've been too patient. I've been hoping my writing will speak for me when in fact, I need to get out there and start shouting "HEY! HERE IT IS!!!"

Don't worry - I still intend to get "Invalid Item"  finalized. But I don't really consider that a resolution any more than I consider getting back on the treadmill a resolution because writing new stuff and working on it is already a part of my day to day life. If it's part of my everyday life (or supposed to be part of it, as is the case with the treadmill), then it's not a resolution - it's getting back to basics. I think this is an important distinction for me to make for purposes of excercising some discipline and self control in my life. And besides, I hope that what I learn in the new year will help me get it off the ground quicker. It may be, in fact, the piece that I use to launch these brand new efforts.

So that's my resolution for the new year. I pray that it works. And if any of you have any tips or pointers, well, I'm all ears.

Yep, I do believe I've found myself and I'm ready to set the world on fire! I did it symbolically in "Invalid Item"  but now I'm ready to do it for real! Well, in a matter of speaking anyway. I think you know what I mean. The point is that I've spent the last year watching others chase down and tackle their dreams and now it's my turn. I really want my writing to succeed and now it's time for me to grow up, buck up, and do what it takes to get it moving!

That's all for today. I hope you have a good one. See you later.

Bye!
 

Hi folks; I hope you're doing well and having a great day. Well, it must be Christmas. The office is empty except for us few troops that stuck it out today. Traffic is bad, stores are crowded, and my mother-in-law has gone completely insane, crying and pitching fits in her usual anxiety riddled "I want" tirades.

So everything is pretty much normal. Yep, it must be Christmas.

I don't have high hopes for the holidays, but that's ok. It's like that sometimes. And this year hasn't been the greatest - it's been awful, in fact, but thanks be to God that it's almost over. I'm determined to make 2011 better. I've learned a lot this year; about myself and life; and hopefully this can be applied to make things better.

I hope that each and every one of you has a very Merry Christmas. Don't forget the reason for the season is Jesus.

Thanks for being there and God bless you all!
 

Hi all; I hope you're doing well and having a good day. Yes, Christmas is coming, ready or not. Fortunately, I do believe we are ready now. The shopping was finished last week, and I have the house cleaned and stocked now. The holiday plans are made and all that's left is to keep it rolling until Christmas and beyond.

I feel I need to apologize for my last entry. It's been kind of an overwhelming year, so of course a lot is different. It seems the name of the game is to adapt and adjust - but I've done so much of that this year that it gets kind of frustrating. I have next week off (I'm taking off between Christmas Eve and January 4th), so I hope that some time away from work will help. I think I just need to break that routine and have some time to spend with family, friends, and just chilling out at home.

Anyway, I am feeling better today. Having things in order is no doubt a big reason why. I wish I had 2 week off like Rick does but oh well, I'll live.

I still haven't seen Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I just haven't had time. Somebody in Sunday School complained about the same thing. We're both hoping we'll get to see it while we're off after Christmas.

That's all for now. Here's hoping your holiday preparations are going well. Take care and I'll see you later.

Bye!
 

Hi folks; I hope you're doing well and having a good day. It's ok for me. I'm just in a spell today. Rick's back flared up again after work yesterday, so he's been laid out all day today. And my boss sent me home because of this nagging cough I have with this post nasal drainage from that sinus muck I had last month. I don't feel bad, but I guess I must sound bad. Or they got irritated one. I don't know. She kind of snapped at me and I was a bit surprised, hurt and a little pissed. I know here father is sick and she's been super stressed with running around for him and trying to keep up with work, but I think that whole situation could have been handled better.

Anyway, you don't care that my delicate feelings were hurt and frankly, I probably shouldn't pay too much attention to them either - considering I got a day off out of the deal.

I think my nerves are just a bit frayed today. I've had people on me lately to "make things happen" because of arbituary deadlines they suddenly set on themselves and others, and that's got me out of sorts. Plus, there's the holidays. I'm sick of the drama. It's just chaos everywhere. And if I hear the words "I want" one more time, I may rip a head off. Thank you, Jesus, for coming to save us from the very selfishness that Your Birthday seems to be perpetuating. I'm sorry, Lord. That's all I know to say. We go on about the secularization and commercialization of Christmas and close our eyes to the fact that it's the selfish demands of our "wish lists" that have made it that way.

I'm trying to simplify here, but everything's turning into rocket science. Perhaps I should have just been a rocket scientist so everything wouldn't seem as complicated as they're turning!

I guess I'm just in a state this holiday season. Nothing's the same. My husband has an injury. My life has been completely turned around. We weren't able to have our Sunday School Christmas party because everybody's 4 ways from the wind this season. I'm seperated from my 2 good friends from my last job. I'm tired and completely burned out. I'm trying so hard to whittle this down to basics and day to day living, but nothing is going along with my efforts. I feel like I fight all the time, and I'm just sick of it.

I really hate being without a therapist right now, but that last one was doing more harm than good. I don't believe I told you what my real problem was. She wanted me to roll over and play dead and just let life happen. Just let other people lead me by the nose and be meek and cooperative to their needs because they have problems and I don't. Or so she supposed, anyway.

Folks, you can't tell a lion to be a lamb and expect them to listen. And I couldn't put up with that anymore, not even for 1 more session. She was doing more harm than good and I surely don't need THAT!

Anyway, we are under a new one, but he can't start with us until January 4 because of insurance. So I guess I'll have to stand on my own 2 feet until then.

I will stand. That much I do know. It seems there are a lot of demons running around in my life trying to knock my feet out from under me, but I won't let them win. I can't. It's my life and I will have it!

Sorry to be kind of a downer today, but it is a blog and it's no good to me or anybody else if I'm not honest in it, or with myself. If I really want to move forward and see progress, I have to be honest with myself about what is.

In some better news, I have done some rating and reviewing around here tonight. So yesterday's entry isn't a complete washout. Despite the dive today, I'm still striving and trying to keep things going the best I can, taking it day by day.

Here's hoping the weekend will be better. Happy Friday to you. See you later.

Bye!