Hi all,

How are you all tonight/today? Blessed I hope. I am!

Okay, I know some of you might be wondering what the verdict is about my knee. I saw the orthopedic doctor today. Oh boy I could wish I was a few years younger and or he a few years older. I don't know if he's available, but he's got to be around my kids ages. His trainee assist was just as good looking. Okay, I'm single/divorced and been stuck here on the computer for 15 years. Or maybe it feels that way. Anyway, on to the diagnosis. The pain in my knee is the result of my fall back in early February. There is a ligament called the MCL along the inside of the knee attaching the two bones. That was damaged. I do not need surgery. He said it's been six weeks and should heal itself in another three weeks. He said if the pain isn't gone and I'm not back to normal in that time then he would schedule an MRI. So it looks like everything will work itself out. It just needs time. I also have arthritis behind the kneecap and on that side of the knee as evidenced by the narrowing of the area between the two bones. So other than that, everything is looking good, and hopefully feeling good soon. In the meantime he gave me some medication - he called it Ibuprofen on steroids. I told him not to give me Aleve. When I woke a couple months back unable to walk and had to wait through most of the day until I could walk almost decent enough to get over to the hospital 3 blocks away the doctor there gave me prescription Aleve - it didn't work. He told me it wasn't, when I picked up the medication I found out it was prescription Aleve. We'll see if it works this time around. I have my doubts. I'll let you know.

In the meantime my vacation is coming up fast, just five days. I'll change the number on my heading before I go to bed. It'll be good to be off my knee for a whole week, yeah right. If you believe that one, I have swampland for sale. Though I am hoping I can get caught up and be ready for Script Frenzy starting April 1. I have my book ready to start on the Scrptfrenzy.org site, and I see from my list of novels in my portfolio that I have the first chapter uploaded here. I'll be working with Wilderness Challenge. One of my finished novels.

In the Frontliners Novel review forum my novel Scarred was up for review last week and I got a couple reviews on the second chapter. Now I worked very hard with chapter one and got it as perfect as I can, but forgot about those changes with chapter 2. They're fixed now, so it reads right.

Other than that I'm still playing catchup with my daily Bible study and my March newsletter for my website. My computer problems put me 2 weeks behind and that is almost impossible to make up. Hopefully I'll be able to do just that next week and get the April newsletter done at the same time. It will be good to be back on track. I'm also planning to do a lot of reviewing next week, so you might see me reviewing your work, or if you want me to take a look at your work just let me know and I'll be glad to take a look at it. I'll also be doing the newsletter for Authors Discussion Club due for April since that ball is in my court now, and I love it. I have my topic and hoped to hammer it out this weekend, but that didn't happen since I have to go back to work tomorrow, but come Saturday at 4:15 CDT I'll be able to get some work done, after the birthday party. My grandson turns 18 on Saturday, the first day of Spring.

And as to that, there is no snow left in my yard. There is still a trace of snow, but it's fast melting. It was 56 today, and I see that from now on and getting warmer as we move toward summer in the northern hemisphere. Well that's all I have from here. I hope you are all doing very well with your own works of art. So while I finish up some loose ends around here, you

Keep on writing
Valerie

P.S. One more quick note. I got my computer glasses back today and everything is looking good with them. I just have to get used to the fact I don't need my nose on the screen any longer to see what I'm reading or writing.

Blessings
 

Hi all,

How are you all tonight/today? Blessed I hope. I know I am!

You might remember I wrote I made the appointment to see the doctor today for my knee. I was a lot more worried than even I realized as I was in the bathroom a lot between 4 and 9:30 this morning. I didn't calm down until after I left the doctor's office. So what was the verdict?

The verdict isn't in yet, and I didn't think it would be. My greatest concern was that she would do the needle under the kneecap again looking for fluid. It didn't happen. I know some of you cringed at that thought, I agree. It's very painful, but when she told me she wasn't going to do that procedure I relaxed. I knew there would be x-rays and I expected the referral to the orthopedic doctor.

The x-rays show the beginning of arthritis. I'm not unhappy about that. I've prayed against it for years, not wanting to be too young for it in my opinion. I'll be 57 this year and a beginning for my age is acceptable, though it shouldn't be I know, as I know who my healer is. I believe my faith has kept me free of a lot of inherited diseases thus far. Arthritis is one, heart disease another, and Alzheimer's are in my immediate family. There is also a history of diabetes for which I've kept up prayers against that all these years and still am.

So anyway the upshot of today's appointment is that I'm getting old. I'm not old yet, but I'm getting on toward middle age soon. I know I just told you I'm turning 57 this year and most people think mid thirties is middle age. I don't know where they come up with that figure. The Bible says man's years are 120. That makes middle age 60. I'm not there yet, but I soon will be. And with God's help, good diet and exercise I'll lose the necessary weight, get this knee healed up properly, and beat the arthritis back to where it came from. I simply refuse to be frail. Frail is for people who think they are old. I have no intention of thinking myself old. Not for a good long time to come.

This weekend was a different one for me. I watched a lot of TV. Took care of my play list on the DVR and watched a couple movies. What I didn't do was spend a lot of time on the computer. At least not like I have in the past. I know I need to. I'm still behind with my personal newsletter for March. My Bible study is gaining ground but still behind, and add to the mix the reviews that I needed to do this weekend and didn't get done, oh well. All I can say is - they will. I also have to work on an April newsletter for here on WDC, so all that is coming up along with my vacation and a good rest from work.

As far as family events going on this year. I have a birthday this month. My oldest grandson turns 18, and yes that means he's graduating from high school in June. Another grandson turns 13 on Easter Sunday. That leaves only one grandchild yet to make it to the teens and since she's only six there's time yet for her.

As for me, I'm going to push for publication this year for Scarred, at least that's the plan. It's in the final stages of revision.

I nearly forgot. April 1 is coming up fast and that means Script Frenzy for any of you who are going to work on scripts for the month of April. For info you can go to either NaNoWriMo.org or Scriptfrenzy.com. Both will give you all the details for this mid year event. I have decided on a manuscript to turn into a script so it should be fun. It was last year.

Well now that everyone is caught up with my mundane life, it's time to stop reading about my life and create lives of your own.

Keep writing
Valerie
 

Hi all,

How are you all tonight/today? I hope you are blessed. I am!

It's been a hectic week, but things have sorted themselves out. I have my computer working somewhat properly. I gave up on HP. I paid them for nothing it seems. The integrated speakers on my monitor still don't work, but the external speakers plugged into the tower do, so that's how it will have to be.

I also have all my programs up and running properly as well, with no more system breakdowns, so I can think about getting caught up with all the stuff that is behind, like my Bible study which is a week behind and my newsletter now 4 days behind. Hopefully I'll get that done and posted this weekend.

Other than that, and by no means am I complaining, but the calls at work have been good. Even when I've had to tell a customer 'no', I didn't get an argument. I think that planetary shift caused by the Chilean earthquake did more than shave a few minutes off our day. It made people more friendly, or did someone put something in the water???

So life is back to normal, and I'm back to writing. So while I write, you also

Keep on writing
Valerie
 

Hi all,

How are you all today/tonight? I hope you are all blessed. I am!

It has been a day of frustration. I decided to call the computer people about turning on the sound on my computer, the last thing I need to do to have this completely fixed. Right now it has external speakers hooked up to it. It comes with integrated speakers that aren't working at the moment. I was on the phone for a couple hours and then had to turn the phone over to my son because I had to go to work. When I got home I found I have to do another complete recovery on Monday. Someone is going to call me from HP to walk me through it. At least I don't have to go through the complete save of my files again because those are already saved and backed up.

Other than that, my work day was OK. We were slower than we have been, which is surprising considering the new storm on the east coast.

I haven't had a lot of time to write with all the work getting the computer working properly, but that will be taken care of by end of day Monday, I hope. In fact I've spent less time on the computer this week than I have in a very long time. So you know I'll be back soon and when I am, I'll be doing a good deal of writing, reading, reviewing, and rating. The 4 Rs. The W is silent.

With that said, yes, my own newsletter is going to be late for March since I haven't been able to work on that either. I have a lot of catch up to do on everything.

Well you've listened/read enough about my woes, so I'll let you go read another more stimulating blog. Have a great day and

Keep on writing
Valerie

 

Hi all,

How are you all doing this morning/tonight? I am totally blessed.

The backup website wasn't the problem. They are a good site. Thanks to our own Aaron in the Frontliners Novel Forum, the key to my problems was that when I did the restore point yesterday again because something disappeared that shouldn't have and gave me more errors, it also took off my Microsoft Office. It's installed again and I have all my work available to me, so I am happy and I can look forward to a career as an author. Praise God!!!!!!!

Have a great day and

Keep on writing
Valerie
 

Hi all,

I hope you are all doing fine today/tonight. I'm fine but discouraged.

I wrote last I think to tell you that I found a really good backup site -- DO NOT USE IT! At this moment I have lost all my work, or at least I can't open it.

I sent an email to Spideroak.com and a query to Microsoft on how to open files with a .docx ending on them. If anyone out there knows how to open and read these files, not just save them - I would be very appreciative.

Otherwise it's been a productive day. I got some necessary housework done and some work on here. I go back to work tomorrow and at this moment, it will be good to do so, also because the best day of the week is payday and that's tomorrow or actually today since it's going on 1 a.m.

So if anybody out there has a solution for me, please don't hesitate to let me know, otherwise my days as an up and coming author just went out the window.

Thanks and

Keep on writing
Valerie
 

Hi all,

How is everybody today/tonight? I hope you are all blessed. I am!

I did a full system recovery on my computer on Saturday after I backed everything up on an online backup site. I fully recommend www.spideroak.com. It's great. After I got the computer recovery done, I started downloading my files back to my computer last night after everything was done and I am so happy. Everything is in working order again.

Today I went on a shopping spree and got a lot of things I wanted, but didn't necessarily need. It felt so good, and when I got home I ordered my new TV from Amazon, so I'll have my new TV in a few days. Edgar came home tonight with a TV of his own, so we're all doing good, thanks to Uncle Sam. Now I just have to wait for the call that my new glasses are ready and I will be able to see real good too.

Other than that, nothing is going on around here. With my computer in good working order I'll be here a little bit more, although I'm here a lot already, but I won't be laying down curses on my computer anymore.

So, I'm going to get some work done and you all

Keep on writing
Valerie
 

Hi all,

I hope you are all doing fine tonight/today. Me - I'm claiming it.

Things have been really strange this week. I had my eyes tested on Monday, found glasses cost more than double what I expected. Wed and Thur my computer decided to give me trouble, so I'm even further behind on my projects than before. To make matters more difficult, my left knee hurts like there is fire under the kneecap, and no, I have not been to the doctor. I'm buying glasses. I can't afford two doctor bills. Even with my taxes coming back, and yes, I have the state check, just waiting on the Fed, and that should be in the account today. I hope. So I am claiming everything is okay in my world, because no matter how big my problems are, my God is bigger, and will take care of me.

I had a delightful surprise when I logged in tonight and looked at my e-mails. A merit badge for Scarred. It made my day. I've also got another local fan of my work. As you know I've been riding the bus for several months now, well the driver wanted to know what I write. I gave him my name and told him he could Google me. I was surprised when he told me he did and further surprised when he told me he added me to his favorites list. He was impressed with my writing. Well it just made me feel all warm and cozy inside.

Speaking of warm and cozy, it's starting to warm up for spring here in the northern hemisphere. I've only worn my fleece lined hoodie to work the last two days. It was in the 30s. When I talked to someone on the phone yesterday from Florida who told me what kind of weather he had there, he asked me where I was from, and I told him it was a nice warm 34 degrees. He laughed. Of course 34 would only be warm to someone like me who enjoys winter so much and doesn't want to see the snow days go away. Though I am aware that you folks on the east coast might share a different opinion about this time. All I can say is I wish it was me with your back to back blizzards and 2 feet plus snow and more in Baltimore, Washington D.C. and the Virginia area. I can only dream of snowfalls such as that. Believe me, I'm praying for snow in heaven, at least at my address. I may not know how to ski now, but I'm sure in heaven it won't be a problem to come up with some skis and ski like a pro. Oh well our little amount here in Green Bay doesn't even amount to a drop in the bucket for you guys.

In other news I got my profile updated on Script Frenzy, and if anybody besides me is participating, I would be more than happy to be your writing partner. I have finally decided which novel I'm going to turn into a script. It should be a lot of fun.

And now because the clock on my computer is telling me it's past bedtime again, and I haven't accomplished what I need to thanks to the computer, I'm going to bed. I wish you better days than I'm having, but like I said, my God is bigger than any of my proplems could possibly be. They are just minor inconveniences. So while I get my beauty sleep, you all just

Keep on writing
Valere

We'll see what I can accomplish tomorrow.
 

Hi all,

How are you all tonight/today? Blessed I hope. I am.

Well in this house anyway, it's expect the unexpected. Instead of being alone for the weekend I have Sabrina and her friend Ashley here for the night. Two teenage girls, one of which has ruled my life since I gave her her first bath shortly after she was born. Fairly has grandma wrapped around her finger. But I draw the line at having boyfriends over at this hour of night - 11:30 p.m. local time. That might not be late to you teenagers out there, but when I was 16 I was in bed and yes, that meant Friday nights too.

Well as everyone the world over knows, opening night of the Olympics from Vancouver happened with the ceremony ending just moments ago. I just want to pause here to acknowledge the athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili from Georgia who was killed in the luge practice training this morning. It is a sad day for his family and his country. My prayers go out to that small country with the big heart at the loss of one of its own.

So my weekend begins. It has been an interesting evening as I watched the pageantry of the 21st Winter Olympics from Vancouver. What interested me and I found a trifle amusing was that for a winter sports event, shared by thousands of athletes and countless television fans around the world, it was raining in Vancouver instead of snowing. I talked to a native of Vancouver yesterday at work and he told me they had to truck snow in. Imagine trucking snow in for the winter Olympics in Canada where it's supposed to be cold, especially this time of year, but he told me Vancouver is rather mild. So okay, this should be an interesting next 16 days as we find out who the best of the best are.

And I understand we are set for our own winter Olympics here at WDC. Best of luck to all those who have entered the competition. No, I have not entered. I took a peek at it last week or so to see what was involved, and I'll leave it up to those who know exactly what's involved.

And for those who are counting down, April first is 46 days away. Time to seriously think about what I'm going to do, or maybe I can procrastinate a little longer as I try to keep up with my present workload.

My vacation is coming up in just a few short weeks, 5 to be exact, I was hoping it was less than that, oh well. I'm looking forward to it with great expectation. Something else I'm looking forward to is my new pair of glasses. I have my eye exam on Monday, it will be great to be able to see properly again. I'm also looking forward to my new car. New for me, but a bit old otherwise, a 1992 Mercury Sable. It's wheels and it will get me where I need to go, that's the important thing.

Well, I'm going to get some needed work done, since I didn't do anything while I watched the opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics. While I'm getting some work done, you also

Keep on writing
Valerie
 

Hi all,

How is everyone tonight/today? I hope you are all blessed and doing very good. I am.

Now I start counting down the days for two very important days in my life. One when I go to the eye doctor for new glasses. Yea! I'll be able to see clearly again. And the moment I pull into my driveway with my new car. Both are next week. My eye appointment is Monday and I expect to have my car next Saturday.

I know when I get my new glasses I'll wonder how I ever saw with these glasses. Of course I know the answer to that is with great difficulty. I have a 25" monitor for my computer and I sit less than a foot from the screen, just to see. Just to give you an indication of how bad I need glasses.

I also found out the museum is open seven days a week, so I can go on my day off and see that Earth from Space exhibit from the Smithsonian on tour here. I really want to get over there and see it before it's no longer available here. Not too crazy about the spiders, they have that exhibit too, but no doubt I'll take a look at it as well as the other exhibits. It's not a huge museum, but it is interesting nonetheless.

I just turned in my next newsletter article for the WDC forum here Author's Club Discussion - I think. Anyway the one run by Teff. I don't know if I'm going to do the Works article this month. The prompts didn't hit my fancy this time, so most likely not.

Other than that I took a look at Edgar's domain in my basement. He's really making it livable down there, and warm with a nice space heater.

There is a consensus that there are mice again this year. I haven't seen any yet, but that doesn't mean they don't exist, so I'll need to get some mothballs. I read not too long ago in some research about snakes that they do the trick in keeping not only snakes out of your basement but mice and bats too. So I'll have to get some on the next shopping trip.

I'm reading and revising yet another of my manuscripts while also working on Scarred. I'm also reviewing for the different forums I'm with, so my day is pretty much filled in when I'm not working.

Right now the clock on the computer tells me it's past my bedtime. I really need to try to get 8 hours of sleep. It doesn't happen very often, and certainly not tonight. The most I can hope for is 7 if I go to bet right now.

It looks like the ground hog saw his shadow back on the 2nd and we have 6 more weeks of winter. Our east coast got hammered and there is another storm tuning up there. We missed that storm, but I went to bed about this time yesterday with snow coming down. It was still snowing when I came home tonight. We didn't get near as much as the east coast did, but we got snow. At times it looked like a blizzard was taking shape outside, and of course that put a huge smile on my lips. I don't know how long this will last, but I sure hope it doesn't stop too soon. I say that from my cozy chair with my space heater keeping my feet and legs warm. Inside is supposed to be comfortable, outside is supposed to be cold with snow. That is a great combination.

I talked to a New Orleans hotel desk agent tonight and congratulated him on the great Super Bowl win they had this past Sunday. He said the parade was happening outside his doors at the time he called. I'm really happy for them. They've had a lot go wrong in recent years with Hurricane Katrina, it's good to see something good happen.

Well, it's time to finish up the blog and head to bed. You all have a blessed night/day and

Keep on writing
Valerie
 

Hi all,

How are you all tonight? Blessed I hope. I am!

Well I did it. I went to my first ever Super Bowl party. At first I wondered whom I would root for, but since the Colts had been to the Super Bowl before and won, and the Saints never had, several of us at church decided to root for the Saints. It's nice to root for the team that won the game. I even surprised myself by getting loud like I do when the Packers are playing. It was a nice time for everyone who showed up. Good snacks and soup - Great soup! I brought home a creamy potato - delicious. I am also proud of myself because I did not cheat on my diet no matter how many cookies there were. Not one passed my lips. But I did have three bowls of the potato soup. I'm home now and munching on green grapes - seedless.

I don't have much to comment on. I did that yesterday, and although I've tried to get a hold of Shiloh about her patch of ice by her house, I haven't been able to do so. Oh well, I will let her know what happened however, hopefully before someone else has an accident.

My plans for tonight are to get some work done on Scarred, and more tomorrow and keep caught up with my Bible study and get started on the March study for my newsletter. Those are the plans. Lots to do, and only 27 hours to do it all in, and some of that I have to sleep.

Well you all have a great night/day, and

Keep on writing
Valerie
 

Hi all,

How are you all doing tonight/today? I am blessed!

It has been a great week. Earlier today I thought of all the things I am blessed with. I am blessed because I am a child of God. I am blessed because I am healthy - for the most part. My toe is healed - finally and I haven't broken anything else. My diet is going really great, I've lost 8 pounds and more will be lost this month. I've promised myself I will only weigh in once a month, and I will not buy a scale, it would be too tempting to step on it every day. I am blessed because I have a new attitude with my job. I made 'A' player for the third week in a row, that means a bonus and the next step is 'Star' player, which means double bonus. I've worked hard to get my stats to this level again. I'm blessed because I have a family whom I love very much, even the son who wants to kill me, literally - no joke. I am blessed with a lot of friends I met through the Internet and through WDC. I am blessed because I found WDC and have learned so much about writing that I haven't learned in the first 50 years of my life. I'm older than that, seriously. I am blessed because both my parents are still alive, and so are my siblings. I am blessed with a God-given talent to write. I am blessed to be a blessing.

I just want to let all the people who live on the east coast know that my prayers are with you as you face the winter storm with blizzard conditions and snow totals 24" or more. I literally wish it were here. We got a dusting, not as much as I would have liked to see, but Green Bay is in a weird place on the map. Snow either goes north or south but major storms rarely hit Green Bay, but when they do it's wonderful, to me anyway. We do get snow here, but rarely more than 3" at a time, and that's nothing compared to other places. Okay, I'm complaining again, and I don't want to do that. I'm really hoping and praying that all of you on the east coast are safe and have snow blowers. I pray this storm does not knock the power out and you are well supplied with all you need until this storm is over and you can dig out. I'm praying for God's mercy and grace on you during this storm, and keep all of you safe.

I'm also blessed because the weekend is here and Edgar and Jon are gone for the weekend. I'm blessed because when I went to my daughter, Shiloh's, house tonight and slipped and fell on the ice, and banged my head on the sidewalk hard enough for it to bounce and echo through my skull, I wasn't hurt, not even a headache, for which I give God praise. I know it's God who kept me from being hurt and the layers I had on - two jackets - one a fleece-lined hoodie, ear warmer, cap, and two hoods so my head and back were well protected from the fall. I told Devon to get that part of the walk salted.

Anyway in other news April 1 is creeping up on us day by day and the beginning of Script Frenzy. If you participated in NaNo you got the info on Script Frenzy. I'm still undecided what I'm going to do, but I will be entering this year again. To find out more go to NaNoWriMo.org.

Well that's all I can think of. My church is having a big Super Bowl party on Sunday night. I'm considering going, but I really have no interest in it. The Packers aren't playing and I really don't know anything about the two teams that are. So we'll see what happens. I may go, just to show myself that there is life outside of WDC. I know it's hard to believe, but I've heard it's true.

In the meantime the clock on the wall is once again telling me I have to go to bed so I can get up in a few hours and go to work.

You all have a wonderful day/night and

Keep on writing
Valerie
 

Hi all,

How is everyone tonight/today? I hope you are blessed. I am!

Well it's Saturday night. I have the next two days off and I'm looking forward to them. I still have some things to finish up before this month is over, or at least one thing left - my newsletter and it's almost finished, or at least the next section of Psalm 119 is. Doing one section a month is really an awesome way to study that psalm and get the most out of it. I know I've been blessed by my study.

I've also been asked to be a writer for one of the newsletters on WDC. The one I did this month was a hit, or so the leader of the group said when she asked me to become a regular writer this week.

I have a new ride to church, and one I can rely on. She's just as much a Jesus freak as I am, though I don't like using that term. I'm not a freak and neither is she but we both love Jesus so much that missing church for either of us is not an option. She jumped in with both feet on the first day. She's part of two community groups and tomorrow will make three. I'm only part of one because of my work hours or I would be part of at least one more if not two myself.

And the good news is that I saw the car I'm buying last night and said yes. It does need a little bit of work before I get it, a new muffler, and I've agreed to a little more for it, but it's still within my range and it's a nice car, though old. It's a Mercury Sable '92. I've decided to get it despite what Edgar said. I'm tired of the bus, and not being able to do what I need to do when I have to do it. So shortly after I get my taxes back, I'll have a car.

I'll also have new glasses this coming month, so I'll be able to see again. I might even be able to see more of the spelling errors in your pieces than I do now. At least I'll be able to read it without being almost on top of my screen. And I'm getting a new TV, also a must. I've been without my own TV for a couple months now and it's annoying. Yes, I have Jon's to watch, but it's not the same as having my own. So I've been pricing TV's and have it pretty much narrowed down on size and price. I just have to have enough tax refund to make all of this happen.

Well that's all for now. Oh one more thing. I stepped on the scale. I've only cheated on my diet once as I wrote a couple days ago, but my energy level is up and I feel like I've lost weight. That's not what the scale said. I thought maybe I had gained more since I stepped on the scale last a couple years ago. So I'm going to figure on what I thought I might be at and will guess at a loss of 8 pounds. I have to believe. But I have something to go on now, and will use that as a guide for the rest of the year. I'm going for a slimmer new me by the end of the year with a goal of 2 pounds per week.

Now I'm finished. Have a great day and

Keep on writing
Valerie
 

Hi all,

How are you all doing tonight/today? I hope you are all blessed. I sure am!

Well today or yesterday really was the first day of my work week. It went fairly well. I had time on my hands until just after 7 p.m. I managed to learn most of the state, province, or country capitals listed on the geography quiz. The one where I learned all the countries of the world, now the capitals are just about memorized. I'm having a little trouble with Africa. But I'm almost got it. I should have it by the time I get home tomorrow.

I really don't have any new news to tell, though I am in the process of making Amish Friendship bread. If you have never had the privilege of making the bread it can be fun. It's a 10 day process. Most of the time you are mushing the bag. On day five you add ingredients and on day ten you add, separate, and bake. Today is day 10. I have the separated bags and the new loaves are out of the oven. I'll take three bags to work with me tomorrow/today and keep one for myself for the next batch in ten days. I'm very tempted to have some of the new batch. Edgar says it's very good. It's also very sweet and since I'm on this diet this year - no sweets in the attempt to lose 100 lbs minimum I'm doing my very best to stay away from sweets. So far I'm doing very well. Right now I'm munching on green grapes. So I'll give one of the two loaves to his girlfriend, though she doesn't want a starter. That's okay, I know there will be others who want them. This time I'll be taking them to work on a week day, last time it was Saturday and there weren't very many people around. Still they were taken, as I'm sure these will be too.

I have a new ride to church. My friend from work will be picking me up from now on. She will be so much more reliable, and for that I'm grateful.

I'm going back to my first idea of buying the car. Yes it's 18 years old, yes it's a very good price, and if there are problems, I would be facing problems with any second hand car I buy, so I'll take my chances that this one is a winner for me, and pray a lot as well.

Okay, it's confession time. I just cut myself a piece of the first batch bread and a piece of the second batch - Very Good!

Well now that I've destroyed my diet for the year, I'm going to have to do better for the rest of the year. Surprisingly despite how much sugar is in this, it's not as sweet as I expected it to be.

Well that's all I have from Green Bay, WI USA. I'm going to get some work done now before I go to bed, which I have to do very soon as I work today. You all have a very good day/night and

Keep on writing
Valerie
 

Hi all,

How is everyone tonight/today? Blessed I hope. I am!

I didn't think it was going to happen. Look at the date, already the 25th. But I did get it done and caught up. I'm speaking about my Bible study, started three days into the year, I was behind from the gitgo, but today I'm caught up. Now all I have to do is get my newsletter study finished before the end of the week, which shouldn't be too hard now that my daily Bible study is up to date.

I want to celebrate, but I'm not done with all my work for today. I still have reviews to do today for two of the three forums I belong to. I got some reviews done for the novel review forum, now on to the rest.

I do have some good news. I invited a co-worker to church on Sunday and she actually came. Afterward I was blessed with an afternoon at her apartment. So I can get out of here and away from my computer for a few hours.

I know I said I was offered a car at a good price, but when I told Edgar about it, he made me stop and think that a price that low and the age of the car would cause more money to fly out of my wallet than it is worth, so I'm going to save my money for a newer car, and yes it will cost a little more. Besides, I have to use the same money for my glasses next month.

Well that's all I have for now, so I'm going back to reviews and if there is time, some writing too. So while I get back to work, you all

Keep writing
Valerie
 

Hi all,

Well it's Friday. How are you all doing tonight/today? I hope you are all blessed. I am!

It is almost the end of the week for me. Just have five more hours to do and I'll see my weekend. I have some good news. It looks like there is a car for me in the very near future. I got a phone call from a friend from church tonight and her son is selling his car. It's a beater, but it works and the price is right. You can't go wrong with that combination. Also, by this time next month I'll be seeing much better and wondering just how I did see all this time, I'm sure. My eye doctor appointment is February 15. I can't wait. It will be so good to have new glasses and not strain my eyesight anymore with these ones.

Other than that, as everyone knows and is eagerly waiting for, at least in the USA, it's tax time. I'm slowly getting my paperwork together as it arrives in my mailbox. I have the mortgage papers now, so all I need is my W2 from work and yea, it's being brought to me this year paperless on the web.

The signs of the times. I know we're in the last days when earthquakes happen in places they don't usually get them, Haiti, and everything goes paperless. I've heard they are working to produce a chip to be implanted. I'm outta here.

Now, I'm not trying to make light of what happened in Haiti by any stretch of the imagination. My prayers are with that little country. I do have a question however that has been plaguing me since I found out about it. How can Haiti be hit by a powerful 7.0 earthquake and the Dominican Republic not? Or any of the other islands in the vicinity like Cuba, Jamaica, and all the other islands in the Caribbean? If you have an answer I would really like to know.

Well Script Frenzy is coming the first of April and I still have to figure out what I'm doing for that, but no worries, I'll have it figured out before that auspicious of days. Another 30 days of writing frenzy only this time in script fashion. It will be interesting and lots of fun. Hope you are also joining in.

Well that's all from here. I'll be heading to bed while all you

Keep on writing
Valerie
 

Hi all,

How are you all doing tonight/today? I hope you are blessed. I am!!

Sometimes it takes me a little time to take the road to progress. A few years ago I got invited to MySpace and I joined. I'm still there, but you won't find me there. Meaning I don't go there often enough to say I have an account with MySpace. I determined that was the last site I would join. No Twitter or Facebook for me. Well Peter, Paul, and Mary once sang The times they are a changing. For me too. Now is the time for my face to be seen on Facebook. Yes, I succumbed to that mysterious site, and hopefully it won't suck my brains out because I really need them for this site.

Anyway, that's what's new with me. As for what's going on around Green Bay, not much. Now that the Packers are out of the running for Super Bowl, this city basically closes up shop for the winter. Though I could go online and find out if there is something amazing to do around here.

I guess we don't close up shop after all. I found a couple interesting things to do. The Neville Museum has a spider exhibit until May 31, and Earth from Space exhibit until March 7. I might just take that in. I love space anything. And they have Winterfest on Broadway on January 30. I never heard of it, and who knows if I'm not working, I might take that in as well. We'll see. Sounds interesting.

I've been told I need to get a life. They also say that being a writer is a very lonely existence. I don't see it. I have so many characters talking to me I don't get lonely very often.

People around here are waiting for the earth to change it's angle so we have the sun closer to us than that southern hemisphere does at the moment. Mind you I'm not one of those people. I like winter just fine. It's getting close to Ground Hog's day which will tell us how much longer we have of winter. I don't put too much stock in that little creature - seeing his shadow, not seeing his shadow, but some people do, especially those looking for some warm rays from the sun. But we do need balance and it would be really out of balance to expect winter all year round here. We enjoy all four seasons in Wisconsin and yes, I do like it that way. Though of course my favorite season is winter.

On a different note, have you heard about the writing contest with Amazon.com? Do you have a novel manuscript ready to enter? I haven't decided yet on Scarred. I'm only half-way through the final revision. It might just have to wait until next year. There is also Script Frenzy coming up in April. That's the spring challenge from NaNoWriMo.org. If you are part of that you've already gotten an e-mail about it. I have to sit down and decide what I'm going to do this year. I took the challenge last year. Maybe I'll turn my November challenge entry into a script. That is acceptable. I found with the manuscript I did last year it helped me define the problem areas, so I just might. We'll see. Though I do prefer working with a finished manuscript, so it will most likely be a different novel I have finished. That starts April 1.

Well other than that, not much going on around here. Got some ideas on my plate now with the events around Green Bay, and I know the Home and Garden Show is coming up in March, but I didn't see when that would be.

So while I go and do some writing, you all

Keep on writing
Valerie
 

Hi all,

How are you all doing tonight/today? I am blessed.

It's the weekend for me, and glad I am too. I've decided I'm going to change this up a little bit, and tell you a little bit about my neck of the woods - Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA.

Well as you are all aware, those of you who read my blogs on a regular basis, Green Bay is home to the Green Bay Packers football team. But that isn't the only thing Green Bay has, though most would probably think so.

For a football town, we are perhaps the smallest in the franchise boasting not quite 200,000 people. Situated at the point of the arm of Wisconsin it can be cold with lake effect snow, but not very much. That is mostly seen on the Lake Michigan side of the state or up the arm into Door County. When it comes to snow, it usually misses us, so when we do get it, I am cheerfully giddy. Yes, we get our share every year, but not as much as I would like. To start this year off with a blizzard of more than a foot of snow was fantastic!

We also have a couple other things most big cities have and that is amusement parks and yes, we even have a zoo. We have a nice collection of rides at Bay Beach amusement park. The train that takes a circular trek around the park, a ferris wheel, scrambler, tilt-a-whirl, swings, the zipper (I think that's what they call it), some kiddie rides - helicopter's, boats, and the notorious carousel no amusement park would be without. We also have a pony ring, but only the younger children are allowed to ride. There is also a wading pool and one more I almost forgot - I don't know what they call it though - you get a burlap sack at the bottom, climb the stairs to the top, and ride down over the undulating waves of the slide to the bottom. It's a nice place to go in the summer and the prices are reasonable. It's in the charter for the park that tickets can't cost more than .10 each, but now it takes a few more of them to get on a ride.

The amusement park can boast the speaking place of one of our presidents, I'm not sure, but I think it was President Franklin Roosevelt. I could be wrong, but I think he visited Green Bay and spoke to the people from the pavilion in the middle of the park. There is also a nice picnic area surrounding the park and a few years ago they added a carriage ride.

Across the street from Bay Beach is the Wildlife Sanctuary. This is a nice place to visit with it's natural environment for many of the wildlife animals that frequent the pond. You will always find geese and ducks waddling around the Sanctuary. There are also houses for snakes, badger, coyote, and deer. I may have missed a few, but those are the ones I remember from my last visit. The information building is also a learning center. There you can find information on all the wildlife native to Wisconsin.

We also boast a zoo called N.E.W. Zoo. I haven't managed to get there yet, even though I have been back in Green Bay since 1991 I think. I haven't had any opportunity to go there. It's slightly outside the city, but I understand it is also a very nice place to visit.

There are two major industries in Green Bay - Proctor and Gamble, and paper mills, we also have a pickle factory here and if you're close by when the air is just right you can smell pickles in the air, but from where I live it's mostly the scent used in the paper products at Proctor and Gamble.

From other blogs you also know Green Bay has a transportation system. It does not run 24 hours. It would be nice if it did, I wouldn't have to rely on a friend to get home from work. Nor does it run 7 days a week. That also would be nice so I could get to church on Sunday morning instead of worrying whether my ride was going to call me and tell me she wasn't going to church again as she did yesterday.

Green Bay is a very nice place to visit so if you're ever in the neighborhood, drop on by and check us out. There really is more to see than the Packer Hall of Fame and Lambeau Field. But if you happen to be here in late summer mid July through August you can check out a Packers practice session along with all the rest of the rail birds.

I forgot to mention we have the Weidner Center for the performing arts. We get some real showstoppers that come here and for live performances. I almost went one year when Peter, Paul, and Mary were in concert, but I was in college at the time and had to give my ticket away because I was also Student Senate President and I had to take a road trip somewhere for the Senate. That was my only opportunity, but someday I want to take the time to go see a live performance of somebody either in concert or a stage play. There is also the Resch Center for concerts and live events. I've been there a few times and it's quite a nice place. They also have a lot of shows such as camping, wedding, and the big Home and Garden Show coming up in March. I really like that one, and now as a homeowner I have more incentive to go and get ideas on how to improve my home.

And, Green Bay also has a museum. I have been there many times. A few years ago we had an Egyptian display on loan from somewhere as it toured around the country. It was very fascinating. They also had a real crime scene on one occasion I visited, and they have a Wisconsin time line exhibit that is fascinating, at least I enjoyed it. There is always something new going on at the museum.

Well it looks like there is something to do in Green Bay, now to find both the time and the transportation to the various points of interest.

You all have a wonderful night/day and

Keep writing
Valerie
 

Hi all,

How are you all doing tonight/today? I hope you are all blessed. I know I am!

This week was much better than last week. I'm keeping my goal in focus as I read through The Purpose Driven Life and downsize 104 pounds this year. I'm on week 2 of my goal and the end of the first week of the 40 day fast with church as we read the book. I can tell you I feel fantastic! I don't know if I've lost anything yet as I don't own a scale, but my energy level is up, and that is a big plus for me. My jeans today are looser than usual, so that is a good sign that things are going in the right direction - down.

How many of you can say you've gone two whole weeks without sweets? With all the fruit I'm eating it wasn't even a temptation. I can even say with the sweet I got today for staying overtime last night unexpectedly at work, I did very good, I gave it to my grandson. Really I did. I don't need it as I am finding. As for my no meats part of that deal, I haven't done more than smell the evidence of cooked hamburger or chicken in the house or at work in the cafeteria. So I'm doing very good on that end too.

I'm finding with all that that there just might have been an ulterior purpose why man was first given fruits, vegetables, and herbs to eat in the Garden of Eden. It keeps the body in proper balance.

Anyone want to work on this goal of mine with me? Do you have some unwanted pounds that need shedding? The 40 day fast is against sweets and meats. For the rest of the year I'll focus on the fruits and veggies more and may have meat once in a while, but not often as I don't crave that either. Though at the moment I am craving something to eat, so I'll have to go and find out what I have to munch on.

So you want to know if I'm sticking to just fruits and veggies? I am eating a somewhat balanced diet of whole grain brown rice, eggs, cheese, and yogurt. Nothing else has passed these lips and that goes for the Amish Friendship bread I have baking in the oven. I'm going to take that to work tomorrow along with the starter bags for the next people who might want to enjoy it and sample what they will be working on for the next 10 days. This bread definitely falls in the sweet category so I will not take the plunge against my waistline. Though it does smell good in the oven at the moment.

In other news around the house. I had a good week. I think Jon and I are getting used to each other finally. It's been three months since they moved in. I do cherish my weekends though when they both head in different directions - Edgar to his girlfriends house and Jon to his other grandmother's where they both are at the moment.

I've also decided it's time to invest in a land line phone. Waiting in the cold for buses to get to my daughter's house once a week isn't worth the reason I go there for just five minutes and then venture home again. So I'm going to look into an alternative phone service and see what I can do and hope it won't cost to much.

No, you did not hear me say I don't like the cold or winter. I do, but I refuse to be stupid and stand outside in it waiting unnecessarily for a bus. Standing in one place for any length of time while the wind whistles through your supposedly winterized gear is not good for any part of your anatomy. If I'm going to be outside I want to be moving around so I don't notice it. You don't do that waiting for a bus.

At my age I could only wish I had the physique to do all the things I used to do as a kid. I loved ice skating and would do it again if given the opportunity. It wasn't that many years ago that I went sledding down the slope with my grandkids and yes, I totally enjoyed it even if my back didn't when it realized what I had spent those several hours doing. I love taking a walk on beautiful winter nights when the wind chills aren't dipping well past zero. That is the part about winter that I don't enjoy, but it does look nice in all its pristine glory. I also remember snowmobile riding when I was a kid - so much fun. I haven't been since I was a kid, no opportunity. Now I'm content to watch it out my windows and even stand outside when the snow is falling gently from the sky. It's a little piece of heaven for me, and then when I feel the nip on my nose I can go inside and have a nice cup of hot chocolate, though with my new goal in mind it will have to be a nice hot cup of tea with honey and cinnamon.

Honey though a sweet is a natural sweet and along with cinnamon is very good for you and works with your body to lose weight along with the other ailments a person might have like arthritis. From the info I have on it, it helps put that to rest permanently. So who knows, I might have just talked myself into a cup of honey and cinnamon.

So while the hour drags on to midnight here, and the time when I take the Amish Bread out of the oven, I'm going to enjoy a cup of that tea and find some fruit to munch on.

Have a great night/day and

Keep on writing
Valerie


 

Hi all,

How are you all today/tonight? Blessed I hope. I am.

Well there is really nothing to talk about at the moment. My life for the moment anyway is blah. Nothing of any import to pass on.

I did find out I came in third in the 12 days of Christmas blogging forum. That was neat.

Otherwise I'm behind in the two Bible studies I'm doing, the daily and the monthly for my newsletter. I've been asked to contribute to a newsletter on here, which I've said yes to, and I have my full time job that keeps me busy.

I feel like the commercial where the guy is squeezing out all the toothpaste to get his money's worth. I'm feeling very squeezed right now. I don't know if there is more of me to give anywhere, but I will do what I promised, and as always it will get done on time. It always seems to do so.

So you all have a great day and

Keep writing
Valerie