Observations

I owe all of my family, friends, readers and anyone else passing through an apology. Things have been crazy here, and I finally remembered to update my blog among the chaos.

Hearts Remembering is in its final stages of revisions and edits. After careful consideration, I already know who is getting it first, and pending rejections, any other publishers... Thank heavens I've done my research, and know where to look to see if they are taking unagented submissions or not. 

Eh, enough about Hearts Remembering... I'm almost "done" with that one as much as I can be, even with help from the Betas. (Speaking of which, they loved it!)... 

I'm recuperating. Before I post from what, I want to toss out a reminder that anyone who laughs at someone getting hurt, sick or anything else that may stop them from doing things is a complete narcissistic twat waffle. Same with wishing any kind of injury, harm, or illness on anyone else, especially if they saw your true nature... JUST SAYING.... 

I threw out my left shoulder - the rotator cuff - about six weeks ago, and it's just starting to heal now. It's the shoulder I injured a few times over the years, starting in high school, and several times since. So, it's a little weaker than the right shoulder. This has prevented me from doing the really heavy renovations around the house, which ticked me off. I'm not supposed to do any lifting with it, and my doctor said not to do any work with it that makes me lift it above my head. Husband has been doing what he can for me heavy lifting wise when he's home... Thank heavens.

It has NOT stopped me from writing and working on prelim stuff for various story ideas though. I can easily type with it held in place with a band around it to hold it against my side, and haven't really used that since before the equinox. I was using a sling when I left the house - especially during my walks - to keep it stabilized, so I wouldn't injure it further by swinging it back and forth like we humans tend to do when we're walking at all.

It's much better now. I can raise it above my head without any weakness or pain, and although my doctor still has the ban on me doing any heavy lifting or work above my head, I am no longer using a sling. I'm still doing strengthening exercises and being careful, but it's well on the mend, thank heavens.

My fall endurance is back, after not taking a lot of walks during the winter time due to icy conditions and just horrid weather in general. I'm able to make the full trip one way without stopping at all, and able to get up any hills without losing my breath. 

The fact I just hit 21 months smoke free this week is probably still a bit of a factor on my speed and endurance are holding up. Even with my allergies in full swing, I'm still motoring, despite sneezing constantly. I put the earbuds in, and crank up Creed, Whom Gods Destroy, or my newest discovery music wise, DISTURBED (heavy metal band out of Chicago, IL)... Their cover of "The Sound of Silence" is beyond amazing, and I love the rest of the "Immortalized" album, and two of their other albums, "Indestructible" and "Asylum"... It's platinum stuff! I have to get the rest of their work for my collection but it's all awesome so far... *grins*

ANYWAY... 

I've been practicing my photography too. I am still using the idiot proof point and shoot camera, but I'm learning a few things here and there to get better shots - thanks to a few tips from my photography pals around Facebook and other spots. 

Here's a few photos I snapped just this morning, during my walk....

All of these were taken within a mile of my home. I live in a former farming community, and it feels like the middle of nowhere, but in reality, I'm only a couple of miles away from a major highway.

I've also noticed I'm needing smaller jeans, or at least a belt. That's what happens when you're eating real, healthy food you prepare from scratch - not the processed garbage like convenience foods, fast food, or junk food - and getting your daily dose of exercise.

More on that another time though. :) 

I have to remember to get some sunblock though.. I'd rather not get a sunburn. I fry, and turn lobster red after a few minutes in the sun without protection. Thank you northern European ancestry... *grumbles*

We purchased Star Wars The Force Awakens on DVD, and my son finally saw it. He didn't like it when Han Solo died - hell, I CRIED when I saw that scene!!! - but loved the rest of it. 

Folks, my son has finally discovered my favorite franchise of all time. I'm so proud of him!

Have a great weekend everyone, and if you're in Nova Scotia, I hope you're loving this ultra warm weather like I am! :)

And on a final note, my cousin shared the following on Facebook yesterday... 

WARNING: SEXUAL CONTENT AHEAD!!!

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LMAO!

Real Life Happens....

Sorry I haven't been posting a lot, things have been bananas here lately.

Winter has been unkind to my area. We have had at least another 2 storms on top of what I was showing in my last blog entry, along with rain and freezing rain... The temperature plummeted and everything on the ground but the roads are now covered in ice. Towns and cities were running out of places to put the snow that they removed from parking lots and other places, and in some spots around here, the snow banks were over 8 feet high, if not higher. I understand that in our provincial capital, Halifax, there were drifts and banks in the 15 to 20 foot range. It's been nuts!

Son's basketball team had to cancel a couple of more practices and one or two games due to weather, but that hasn't stopped them from winning!

So far their record for wins, losses and ties is currently 7-1-1, with two games left to go in the season, both against the same school - one away and the last game is at home.

Son's been scoring a few baskets too. One game that was at home - both Hubby and I were in the stands cheering on his school - Son managed to get THREE baskets! He was so happy, and everyone in the stands went nuts! It seems the other schools' teams know there's a child with autism on Son's team and do make some allowances for him, even the parents from the other schools cheer when he scores. It's one heck of a great feeling seeing them root for him too.

Twelve's first draft will be finished before Easter at the rate I'm going. I was stalled for a bit but manged to get over it, and I'm finally starting to see the light at the end of that writing tunnel.

If I do this before May 29, that will be two first drafts finished within a year. That's a first for me. LOL No complaints! Hopefully I'm starting to train my brain to be like some of my writing friends' brains, be able to draft three or more stories in a year. That would be rather cool if I could do it like that! We shall see... :)

My reading team has already been alerted they have about a month or so to wait after this one's draft is finished before they'll get their copies of it. The editing will be similar to what I did with Away to Me but within less time. They've already been warned it's going to be a lot faster this time, and I'll be working on something else while this one is in stasis.

What I'll be working on next is still up in the air. I'm not going to worry about things now, that can wait until after Twelve's draft is finished... And I recover for about a week. LOL

Have a great weekend folks, and only approximately 3 weeks to go until spring, although my area won't see anything until mid-May, when the mud and blackflies arrive. Yuck.

I leave you with some photos that were taken over the course of the last month or so...

I'm only 5'2 1/2" and the bank behind me is as tall as I am. I'm by the main road in front of my house.

That @#$%^& snow bank in front of the house.

Our flowering crab tree covered in snow and ice.

Snow banks around the Bridgewater Mall parking lot.

Our driveway after the last ice and rain storm.