“It’s a Wonderful Life…”

As we are on the cusp of a new year I thought it only appropriate to let you in a few “secrets” that may help the new year go a little smoother. I’m not looking to change or even rock your World here, just provide some “carbs” for thought and inject a little humor. If I succeeded in doing none of those for you then you can resolve not to “listen” to me in the new year! Isn’t America great!

I am granting you permission to do or not do the following things…the choice as always is yours.

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IT’S OK………

-To make New Years Resolutions

-To break your New Years Resolutions (if it’s not working release the obligation you placed ON YOURSELF and go find what does work!)

-To have leftovers

-To eat dessert first (or only!)

-Wear your shimmery, glittery lotion in the daytime…it’s lotion not an evening gown go ahead be daring!

-WANT to reconcile with people and family from your past (sometimes the desire is enough of a first step, the rest will come later)

-To clear the “clutter” ALL CLUTTER..if it’s dragging you down – clean it up, throw it out, break up with it, change it, sell it, give it away!

-To not give a “flying firetruck” some days! You don’t have to save the WHOLE WORLD every day. Someday’s it is enough just save your own.

-To be upset that all of our food is now bilingual! You bought it in America with American money and those who can’t read the English on it (which necessitate the extra instrucciones) need to take a class or perhaps take a trip –  ”home.”

-To be disappointed in the politician you vocally backed when they turn out to be like all the others…

-To prefer spending time with dogs (& cats) instead of people

-To cry, scream, sing, or laugh  – if that is what you are feeling

-To not follow the fad, crowd, or craze…I am happily Croc and Ugg free and that’s my choice…if you like them the go ahead and wear them! Knock yourself out!!! If something makes you happy (or not) adjust your life accordingly and alow others the same courtesy.

-To let yourself fall in love..Indpendence is wonderful and a basic right and necessity but being able to share it with someone (anyone special) adds a whole new layer to your life

-To take care of “you.” If you don’t because you are always doing for others then what will they do when you are just so unhappy, exhausted, and unable to help them anymore….Nurture yourself and your spirit and it will be ready and willing to share the love when it is needed!

Lastly….It’s OK not to take things too seriously….Life is too short!

Happy New Year! Make it one you will remember, love, and be eager to repeat!!!

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http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/A2235P.aspx

“Story Times Good Enough to Eat” – January 30, 2010 release!

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“We are Santa’s Elves…”

So lots of things happening here! Christmas is circling the block looking for a parking space, Tree is up Gifts sans all but 2 are purchased and awaiting adornment, the cards were written and mailed (and hopefully the PO won’t hold on to these for 4 days like the rest of our mail!!!!) Christmas cookies have been made and we are holding onto Christmas spirit by its tail refusing to let it go!

Amongst all the Holiday hoopla I also have “List” updates for you!!!

#3 has been done for the second time!! This time with a different color – pic posted on photo page

#5 is half done in that I have indeed purchased the sexy boots..just need to wear them without throwing my back the rest of the way out! – pic of those posted as well

#17 and perhaps the coolest of all is done. This is creating and implementing a new Christmas Tradition. We had a bit of a weather delay but we were able to complete the delivery of  these new Christmas “Boo”-type items and I am so excited to see results have popped up around town. Very cool and I hope it catches on and people implement next year and it grows from there. Technically this could also be covered under #28 as I did “start” something by creating this idea from scratch but we’ll keep it at #17 for now and use #28 to “Start something” else!

I am shopping for Children’s Book publishers as we speak so that I may give life to my picture book I will let you know when I send it out and we can all keep our fingers crossed together for 4, 6, 12, weeks etc until they decided to accept or reject it.

In other news. My Story Times Good Enough to Eat” has been given a cover picture and has been sent to the printer! Marketing is underway! For those of you that create things, whatever they may be. A piece of advice is to constantly be wearing your publicity hat – not to the point that you tick off your friends and family but no one will ever feel as passionate about your book, photographs, quilts, knitting, etc that YOU do. So you need to be your biggest fan and if possible come up with a cute and catchy gimmick that makes whatever it is you do stand out from the rest. For instance, When the “Twilight” movie was coming out bookstores had parties and gave away plastic vampire fangs. Harry Potter midnight release parties saw attendees sporting the famous round brown glasses of “the boy who lived.” If what you do has a unique angle develop some kind of giveaway of promotion related to it because, 1. people love free things! and 2. it will make you stand out from the pack and in this economy there is a really big pack out there all vying for the same piece of pie you are and they are not in a sharing mood!

So get out there and be and do the best you can. Take what makes you unique and run with it!! Don’t forget to be kind and if you had an opportunity to do something cool for someone or a stranger let me know and if you were the recipient of my new tradition and you haven’t reciprocated to someone yet, you still have time. Pass on the fun and make someones day and you may just make your own in the process!

If the festivities overtake me and I do not Blog again before Christmas. Everyone please have a wonderful Christmas and thank you for indulging me with my writing and my motivational posts. I thank you for following along and you have made my year! Merry Christmas to you all from Myself, the Mr., Max, and Mimi!

http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/A2235P.aspx

http://www.amazon.com/Story-Times-Good-Enough-Eat/dp/1591588987/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261509193&sr=1-1

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Neither snow, nor drama, nor food poisoning…”

Ah my Blog, my old friend. That’s the great thing about writing is that it is always there because it is something from within you that YOU create. When life, holidays, contract deadlines, and food poisoning sideline you, your “art” sits there patiently waiting for your return. Your creativity is like a loyal family dog that is always happy to see you, never judges your absence, and is always standing at the door when you return home.

Since my last post I have completed the FINAL edit of my proofs and created an index for “Story Times Good Enough to Eat” It will be published under the umbrella of ABC-CLIO at the end of January! It is also available for pre-order through their website and on AMAZON.COM, how cool is that?

I write primarily fiction (not true stories) and poetry. However, this book is near and dear to my heart as it deals with all the programs that I LOVED putting together when I was Director (& asst. director) at the Chester Public Library. It was that job and the children that inspired the ideas for the programs and the fact that we were a small library with minimal staff and budget made the multi-tasking nature of the programs a necessity. As a result, and due to an offhand comment by the Director before me to put them all in a book, this book was eventually born. I am anxious to see it in its final form. This book has always been a challenge as it is a non-fiction, reference-type book. That means quoting sources, checking facts, and creating an index that was about as pleasant as a trip to the dentist. I have new respect for the people that put together the yellow pages in the phone book!! It is done however, and now the marketing begins. My husband excitedly said “now you can forget about that one and work on the picture book.” I explained that in the writing World marketing is non-stop and now that the book is 100% done the time to get the message out is NOW not when it comes out. But I thanked him for wanting to help me put the index trauma behind me as we were both stricken with food poisoning for 3 days right before I had to get the index out to Colorado. Really bad timing and the last thing I felt like doing was writing about food and recipes. yuck.As I said it is done, the marketing phase begins and it has sparked a surge of creativity in me since the manuscript was Fed-exed.

I usually read a book while I ride my exercise bike and I finished the Nicholas Sparks book and found myself without any captivating reading material on hand so I grabbed my notepad which is never far and managed to work  through the blocked area of my children’s Christmas Picture Book that I just could not find a way around for the last 2 months! That manuscript in a very, very rough form is now finished!!! It will now get polished and eventually submitted! I also created a poem this morning while riding and it is actually the second in a series on the seasons which was a brainstorm this morning as well! I am so excited and overwhelmed by the creativity and I also got a lot of great ideas to promote myself as an artist by attending a free workshop put on by the NH Arts Council on Tuesday. I met a lot of very interesting new Hampshire artists including a man who spent 6 months on Shel Silverstein’s houseboat in California in the 70’s and I saw the incredible sepia paintings he created.

Many of the artists talked about being isolated in the fact that they worked from home in a studio or shed and some were over near Dublin and Keene and they spoke of needing to network with other artists to 1. have some company and 2. to be inspired by being among fellow creative people. I actually realized they had a point. I LOVE being home even though the dog drives me nuts some days but I realized that a lack of interaction with the public kind of stifles or subdues your senses.  I am grateful to the council for putting these workshops on and at a great price to boot!

I have a feeling this is going to be a very productive winter and you know not having to worry about a commute in the snow or being a Dept. head during budget season: makes for a very stress free environment!

“List” update!

-We have assembled our new Christmas Tradition and weather permitting we will be “delivering” them on Sunday.

-Using Birthday money I found some non-back friendly boots ridiculously cheap on eBay I have not worn them but they are in-house and I will post a picture of them. So that one is half done!

As for my “Kindness Challenge,” the hubby got to see first hand what happens when you are “kind” to strangers. We were in Macy’s doing some Christmas shopping. Our hands were overfull and my fingers had cramped into a claw. We were THIRD in line with no good place to put anything down. the man in front took them up on their offer of a credit card which added time to his transaction. My husband like most men does not enjoy waiting and honestly with cramping hands and a throbbing back I don’t blame him. A lady got in line behind us with ONE box of some electronic gadget. I whispered to him that we were going to let her go first. He emitted a bit of a throaty growl, I raised my eyebrows, and he turned and said, “Ma’am you may go ahead of us.” she was shocked and said, “Are your sure?” I said, “We have oodles of things and my card is buried in my purse and I can’t get to it, so please go ahead.” Turns out her one item was electronic and not eligible for the coupon she had brought. She turned around and dropped it into the dish I was clutching, said Merry Christmas and left. We WERE able to use the coupon and we saved a much-needed 20%!!

Kindness Matters The End

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“The Proof is in the ….mail!”

The arrival of Black Friday also saw the much-anticipated arrival of my “Story Times Good Enough to Eat!” proofs. When I arrived home from my traditional shopping trip with my nephew I saw Fed-ex had delivered my some homework. For those new to or that don’t know much about the writing process, My revised manuscript was sent to a typesetter and the proofs of what the final layout will be has come back to me for any minor corrections or edits. When this is done and I have created an index for the book it will be sent back, updated and then sent to the printer for what is scheduled to be a January 2010 release!

Everything is on a tight deadline so I have less than 2 weeks to read it over and mark my changes (in red pen) and create an index to go along with it. I have never had to make an index before and it is a bit daunting but I am confident that I will get it done and on time. I have made it a point in my writing career to  meet any deadlines given me as obviously they are there for a reason and which is why I believe the release of my book was moved from March up tp January!

As this now takes top priority, that means NaNoWriMo, though still going until the 30th is over for me. It was a fun experiment and maybe in April when their Script Frenzy rolls around I will be able to work on my screenplay without the interruptions of a major holiday and manuscript proofs. So that item on my list will be considered half-done as a contracted manuscript trumps a month-long novel competition!

I will also be completing one of my five (I hope) speaking engagements next Thursday for a local women’s writing group. They have asked me to speak about the publishing process of a non-fiction/reference book so the timing is actually perfect!

 

Don’t forget to work on your “Kindness Challenges” this holiday season…I love the new Toll House cookie ads that show someone baking cookies and giving them away which inspired that person to make a batch and give them to someone else! What a great idea. You never know what you might set into motion by sharing a kind gesture with someone else!!

 

 

 

 

 

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“Be the Change…”

It’s almost time for the big man in the Red suit to bring up the rear in the Macy’s Thanksgiving day Parade. That means it’s time for Black Friday and avalanche of Christmas hoopla that event sets into motion! I am so excited about the Holiday’s this year as they will be my first as a “newlywed” that I admit some Christmas decorations went up as Halloween came down! I am still excited about Thanksgiving and I am learning how to juggle my family, my extended family my new step-children and Mikes family. It is almost overwhelming as in the well if you’re not here for Thanksgiving then we will get you on Christmas etc. It’s a lot of coordinating that started taking shape before Halloween for obvious reasons. While I have been organizing and sorting and decorating I have also been planning for #17 (starting a new Christmas tradition) This actually does not involve family but friends and neighbors. When I instituted my Kindness Challenge on September 11 I have been dedicated to keeping it going with at least one “kind” event a week. During the first weekend my husband and I executed a “kindness blitz” and I encouraged all of you to do the same as we should not just be nice to others on designated days of the year. We had a blast and it carried over into Halloween when we boo’d several people. For those that don’t know what that is, you anonymously drop off a bag of candy, a “Boo” sign, and an explanation for people to pick two people and pass it on. Mike is great at “delivering” the schemes I come up with. The problem is it is very hard to hide a Hummer H2 especially in my town. So for the booing we figured, “piece of cake it will be dark.” Well, there’s this crazy new invention called motion-sensor lights which had Mike scurrying for cover and throwing boo bags on the hoods of people’s cars in their driveway and fleeing before the police were called for a black-hooded man skulking around their property while I sat in the car with it running and the lights off..not conspicuous at all. At one house I waited in a cul-de-sac while he ran up the driveway. He returned seconds later with the candy saying, “There was a “hulk” in the driveway, I went left, it went left, I went right, it went right. I turned and came back.” he was more concerned that their dog would bark and give him away then that he would be bitten. Never fear we managed to “Boo” that person at their place of work, no dogs.

Even after all of that he is still anxious to help with the Christmas Tradition I have devised. It is new to my knowledge and pretty cool and my Mother gets credit for giving me the germ of an idea that sparked it. She therefore has to come with us when we execute it. Now, in the spirit of anonymity I will not say what it is but I will count it done on my list when we get them all delivered and if you live near me there’s a possibility you may be a recipient!!!!

Christmas is a time when people historically feel inspired to  do something nice for others. This is precisely the feeling I’m trying to keep going all year-long through the “Kindness Challenge” and I hope you will all keep opening doors for people or letting someone cut you in line or get that item off the top shelf if you can reach it and if you are the recipient of my new Christmas Tradition, keep it going!!

While decorating I had a Trans-Siberian Orchestra CD on and one song in particular struck me as the perfect one to encompass what I have been trying to pass on and “live by.” Below is an excerpt and may it inspire you to have a happy life and a wonderful holiday season as well!!!!

From “The Old City Bar” by the TSO

“…If you want to arrange it, this World you can change it                                                                                                                            If we could somehow make this Christmas thing last                                                                                                                                    by helping a neighbor or even a stranger, to know who needs help….you need only just ask…”

Well said.

 

 

 

 

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“Reality, Check Please…”

Last night I sat down for a few minutes to look for a Christmas special or movie on TV before my husband got home from work. I am a channel flipper ad I don’t like commercials so in-between movie tidbits I stumbled on the “Housewives of Orange County” Ca. This is a so-called reality TV show that follows five “housewives” and their families everywhere. Due to my flipping I watched probably 15 mins total. In that time I saw a “naked” tanning party where they had a spray tan booth set up for party guests, what happened to piñatas?? lol. One Mom went for a plastic surgery consult and brought along her teenage daughter for one as well. The Mother actually said that it’s so hard to live in Orange County as the daughter has low self-esteem and a sister that’s a supermodel and a nose job would help her fit in better! The Mother actually applauded the fact that they could have their surgery at the same time and recover together! This particular girl also got a BMW last year for her birthday. OK. If “Orange County” is such a place that you feel your not even old enough to vote daughter can’t live without plastic surgery then perhaps that is not the place for you and you need to MOVE!

Another “housewife” was having money troubles and sold off 2-3 of her cars, 2 watches, and some art to help keep her insanely expensive house. OK, if you have so many cars you can sell off 2 or 3 and still have some to drive  and your watches cost enough in the first place that you can sell two to make a mortgage payment then I’m thinking the economy is not to blame for your money troubles, maybe spoiled, indulgent, overspending is. She also took her daughter shopping and nothing was fitting quite right until the Mother reminded her that since her “boob job” she had to go up a size in shirts! I’m not clear on the girls age but I would guess very early 20’s.

There was a lot more in those 15 minutes but that’s enough for me. I mean that is NOT how the rest of the World lives and the rest of the World is also not a size 4. Television can definitely distort “reality” and I love America because people are free to produce such shows and I am free to use the channel change button on my remote! I know some people LOVE that show and the drama. My actual REAL life has enough drama and I don’t need to see manicured, perfectly coiffed and spray-tanned alleged housewives complaining because they may need to sell their 1.2 million dollar home!

Here’s reality, one of my oldest friends just spent a week in California on her hands and knees covered in the ashes of her sisters former home that was leveled by the wildfires a couple of months ago. The sister and her husband have been living in a hotel. THAT is reality. They have nothing and are living in the same state as these women that are complaining that the bump on their nose or their tiny boobs are making life in their gated community difficult!

That is not my reality! I have values, integrity, and a responsibility gene, thank you Mom and Dad. I have a husband that adores me, wonderful friends and a nephew I love more than life itself. I even am thankful for Max the loudest, smelliest, hungriest dog in the WHOLE WORLD! That is my reality. My husband is pursuing and achieving his dreams and allowing me the same freedom to do so as well. We have food and a roof and we are good. That’s reality.

Whiny, pampered women are not my idea of entertainment but to each his own. And let me just say their claim that these are “real housewives” is as fake as their breasts!

God Bless America!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Things I Have Learned…

The following is a list of things I have learned and come to terms with in the last few days:

1. The dog will always bark to go out the second you take your shoes off.

2.”The English Patient” is not a movie you can start watching in the middle and have any hope of being able to figure out what the heck is going. (I will read the book to see what I missed!!)

3. Social Networking sites are both a hindrence and a help

4. Just manually pumping up the exercise ball is sometimes exercise enough. To make sure your other bicep gets an equal workout, deflate the ball and pump it up again for ten minutes using your OTHER arm!

5.If you wish and wish for chocolate cookies but don’t actually  make them they will NOT appear. If you truly want to eat a homemade chocoloate cookie one must actually MAKE them or buy them. The same is true for your life: If you want to sell your painting you must actually paint it, if you wish to publish your book you must write it.

You can’t publish the book you never finished and you can’t make money from the dream you don’t take steps toward fulfilling.

You wish is the “seed” and it is free, but to make it a reality you must actually “plant it” (decide you want it), “Fertlize it”(Make a plan) “Weed it”(take actions from your plan and find what is and isn’t working) “Water it” (keep pushing even through dry spells and fear)before you can “Harvest” (Achieve your goal!)

That is my 2 cents for today! Which through saving and planning and action will hopefully turn into 4 cents tomorrow!

 

 

 

 

 

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2 down from the list 38 to go!

Sunday (yesterday) I was fortunate enough to watch my husband compete in something he has been  involved in for over 20 years and judging by the boxes and boxes of trophies we packed when he moved he was quite good. It wasn’t until yesterday in the basement of a YMCA in Burlington, Vt. that I got to see with my own eyes what he was capable of. He competed in the 100% Raw Vermont Powerlifting competition in the Bench Press category for lifters aged 45-49 in the 181lb weight category. They get 3 tries to make or better their lifts. At 314.16lbs he made the lift and brought home 2 first place trophies to add to his collection! He will also now hold a NH state record though the meet was in Vermont as he lives in NH. The whole day was quite impressive as I am one who loves to see how things work “behind the scenes” and I had no idea how a powerlifting meet ran. I got to see it all from weigh-ins to Awards. Many National records were broken some shattered and many by women and one in particular that was only 17 years old. I saw a 70+ year old former Olympian bench 450lbs and go for records in the dead lift. I watch a giant greek man deadlift 562.7lbs after having competed all day and on his 3rd attempt he went for 600. He didn’t make it but who cares! the last one was over 550lbs! Women and men alike were benching and lifting 2 and 3 times their bodyweight! Think about how much you weigh, now do the math, now think about that for a second. ………yup …amazing. I saw lots of rituals, props, etc and some great athletes and I have tons of writing material, some serious and some hilarious! I was even inspired by the State of Vermont in the first 20 mins of driving past the Welcome sign. I couldn’t write fast enough. All I’ll say for now is Vermont truly is trying to be a “green” state!

So I am very proud of Mike and “Mighty Mick” and I got to cross a goal off my list and quite frankly so did he!!!

For those of you that are my Facebook ”friend,” I have pictures and a short video. For the rest of you go to You Tube and type in Mike Folini and you can watch 49 years raise 300+lbs!

 

 

www.vermontpowerlifting.com

www.rawpowerlifting.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

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“Gonna Fly Now…”

So this coming Sunday I will get to complete #38, which is to watch Mike compete in a powerlifting meet. Weightlifting and powerlifting have been a BIG part of his life for decades but in the 3+ years we have been together I haven’t been able to seem him compete. So Sunday in Vermont he will be benchpressing for a trophy and possibly a record in the “Vermont Old School Iron Wars.” I am curious to see what all of this is about. He is in the best shape he has been in since I met him and I know he is poised to make a big comeback! Plus it doesn’t hurt your personal training business when you can “walk the walk,” when you are in great shape it gives you more credibility with your clients. That is true of a lot of professions. How many of you have been to a hairdresser that had dirty, unstyled hair and 2″ roots or have been told by an overweight Dr. to lose weight after you were weighed by an overweight nurse? My point is in order to sell yourself and inspire confidence in your customers and clients you need to look and live like you know what you’re doing before people will spend their hard-earned money on your service!

So I wish him the best of luck and love and support and support makes all the difference when you are trying to achieve a goal or a dream and to give him a boost I had a surprise manifesting dinner for him last Sunday. We both love “Rocky” and in fact that is Mike’s nickname, he has always felt a bit of the underdog and he is not the youngest competitor by far so we had a Philadelphia, Rocky-style dinner. The menu was Philly cheese steak subs, Philly Cheesecake, Tasy-Kakes (apparently a big deal in Philly and made there) complete with barbells and dumbbells for dessert. See the picture for an explanation of that last one!! LOL It’s creative thinking like that, that earned me a book contract for my “Storytimes Good Enough to Eat!” book.

I decorated with past first place plaques and trophies and our good luck “Mighty Mick’s Boxing” shirt!

We had a good time and it was his last “Cheat” day before the meet. It just shows you don’t have to spend a lot of money to show someone you care or to have a good time a little creativity and some thought is often enough of a gesture to let someone know you support them.

Back to my writing which has been slower than I’d hoped but I’m in a better frame of mind and looking at the BIG picture. I have a month to finish not just 3 days!! lol

Enjoy the pictures!      “Rocky, Rocky, Rocky…..”

 

For more info on the meet or powerlifting in general check out these sites:

www.vermontpowerlifting.com

www.rawpowerlifting.com – they are sanctioning this meet

 

 

 

 

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NaNoWriMo – day 1

For those of you that think I just watched a “Mork and Mindy” re-run – that title is actually short for National Novel Writing Month. Today is Day 1 and I have my notebooks, props, and research material ready on my desk! I will attempt to write my novel about my favorite tree in the whole World, The Tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City. I have been fascinated by this tree since before I even saw it. One of my favorite tiny Christmas stories is one about the tree and it’s journey from some nuns to the “Big Apple.” I have 3 other non-fiction books on the subject, one of which just came out last year. However, there are precious few novels about the tree, and Christmas is coming!! I have never been the kind of writer that could write about Christmas in August like some publishers would like. I get inspired by seasons and events as they are happening and for a writer or artist that is the BEST time to create something as that is when it is fresh and you are experiencing the emotions and feelings that surround it. To try and conjure the same experience 6 months later feels forced, at least for me. Many writer’s are given the advice to write what you know and that is 100% true, but I’m going to go one step further and say write what you LOVE! This way you will be passionate and inspired and your fingers won’t be able to keep up with your brain in the frenzy to get it all out on paper. Now of course it’s always good to learn about something new and writer’s by nature are creative and inquisitive my only point is when you believe in what you are creating it shows, some of the best songs in the World were written in the moment and the songwriter managed to capture a feeling which is evident when you listen to the song. It’s always a good idea to capitalize on your creativity whatever your medium may be, even if you only have time to take a quick photo or write a few lines at the time they will help you keep it fresh until you can get to the rest of it.

So, on that note I shall go and try and re-create the wonder of the biggest Christmas tree in the World! I have 3 possible directions mapped out for the book but I am open to letting the story lead me as well!

Plus this will help me towards manifesting our Christmas trip there! I am even wearing my I love New York Socks today! LOL – Can’t hurt right?!!

How about you taking the next 30 days to find out what you are passionate about?…hmmm

 

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“It was a dark and stormy….”

Happy almost Halloween! I actually love Halloween although where I live the “Holiday” has gotten a bit out of hand and it cuts down severely on my enjoyment. I do decorate but there are years I do not open as 1,000 trick-or-treaters in 2 hours is overwhelming and expensive and makes it hard to “scare” them when they come in bunches of 15-20 and most are adults that don’t even live in town. But The dog is wearing his festive bandanna and I have been wearing Halloween socks all month, yes I have that many pairs! LOL.

I even created a poem about trick-or-treat on my street and I actually had purchased a blank book on clearance some years ago that was specifically for a Halloween-type scrapbook as it has bats and came with spooky stickers. So I turned my poem into a wee Halloween book! See, if you want something bad enough you can make it yourself!! Now I just need either pictures or illustrations. I can draw about every 3 years on a Tuesday, LOL and when I do it’s great! But when I’m not inspired they are just awful so it is what it is. Perhaps I will use Mike’s son – my new step-son, Michael as he is a very talented graphic designer who actually just launched a game fro Nintendo Wii and there was a nice article in the Foster’s Daily Democrat last weekend. I hope it’s the first of many for him!!

I also have been doing some other poetry work as I have one I am “donating” to the town for a commemorative event and one I’d like to see win a prize from the local college that shares my street! As for my 40 after 40 list, well that is moving along quite nicely!

-I actually confirmed a speaking engagement (#29) for December so I now only need 4 more (I also have one tentative lined up)

-We are trying very positively to take the trip to NYC (#10) in December and so far the money keeps cropping up. A couple more weeks of thinking like it’s happening and we shall see if it manifested itself!! Lots of signs popping up as well and I have my lucky NYC socks to wear once Halloween is over. I also have an “I Love NY” shot glass on my desk!

-As for #1, # 2, & # 5. I have made myself ride my exercise bike these last two days. My back has been in pretty rough shape for about a month which has kept me from exercising but as my trainer husband pointed out it needs to be in better condition to help fix it and exercising will help. So, off I went bad leg and all. It did feel good to take a bit of control over that situation and I spied a pair of boots on eBay ridiculously cheap so we shall see if the birthday money makes them a reality!!! Stay tuned

Lastly #34 – to participate in NaNoWriMo is coming at me at the speed of light! Starting Sunday, November 1st, I will be writing a novel in 30 days. I did one in 3 so thirty should be plenty of time!! (I hope) The challenge is to write 50,000 words by December 1st. The organization sent an email saying that boils down to 1,667 words a day. OK sure, It’s a good thing I’m a multi-tasker! I have narrowed it down to 2 ideas but we’ll see what happens on Sunday when I actually sit down to write as sometimes stories have a way of elbowing themselves to the front of your mind when you didn’t even know they were in the back, and those turn out to be the BEST ones! So I will keep you updated on my progress in that competition.

A busy month ahead indeed as Mike will be competing in a powerlifting competition in Vermont next Sunday!!!! he’s getting over a cold this week so he will be good to go next week. By the way that will take care of #38!

 

 

The link to the article in Foster’s about Michael’s Nintendo Wii game!

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091025/GJNEWS_01/710259904/-1/FOSNEWS

 

 

 

 

 

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“Surprise…..”

So this weekend while I was preparing to go to my grandson Hunter’s 1st birthday party my husband, friends, and family were preparing a party for me as well! Immediately after the party I was kidnapped and driven to the Shogun Japanese restaurant where my friends and some family members who had already left Hunter’s party were waiting to yell surprise! And it was. I had actually planned to make my first trip to the Shogun on Sunday the following day to celebrate the completion of my crane project. I had my coupon and my crane earrings out and sitting on my desk. Well, I didn’t need them I guess as my first trip coincided with a surprise party for the 12th anniversary of my 28th birthday. It was quite an experience and it was actually hilarious although I’m not sure it was supposed to be. I had sake (warm) and watched my food being sliced and diced in front of me and the cook cleaned up after himself by tossing eggshells and shrimp tails into his chef coat pocket. There was a singing of Happy birthday in English (?!) then something followed in Japanese that  is very difficult to politely describe! So I can now say that I have been and I shall save my coupon and my earrings for another time! A funny note is that as birthday girl I was given a piece of cheesecake with a candle in it. Not something Japanese, unfortunately I am lactose intolerant so I couldn’t eat it but everyone else enjoyed it!

We also had our last two manifesting meals yesterday (since we’d already been to the Shogun). I combined the islands with the Caribbean cruise and we had our cheeseburgers in paradise complete with Royal Caribbean Risotto! some pics are below.

Now, an update on my “40″ list.

I did some checking on #6 the visit to Robert Frost Farm and they close the farm buildings on October13! darn it. So It’s on my list for when they re-open next spring STILL withing the one year timeframe (yessss!)

#29 – to book 5 speaking engagements/book talks – is underway as well as I have one tentatively scheduled for Dec. 3rd and there is a group I spoke to last winter that is interested in having me come back this year after the first of the year. So 2 tentative dates towards that task!

#38 “to watch Mike compete in a powerlifting meet” – is just about a done deal as well. He is registered for a meet in Vermont the first weekend in November and he’s feeling strong!

#10 “take a trip to NYC” – we’re kicking around the idea for the first Saturday in December. It’s our favorite time to go and we missed last year due to wedding preparations and job obligations. We had a manifesting meal over it and it is now stuck front and center in my brain and will not budge so we will think positively on it for a couple of weeks and if the money presents itself or signs appear to that effect then we will go!

 

So lots of little irons of progress in the fire, very encouraging!!!

a few photos from Shogun!

Photos from the last two Menu Manifestation meals – Caribbean Cruise and St. Thomas/St. Maarten:

 

 

We will also be executing another kindness challenge secret squirrel mission tonight! How about you??!!

 

 

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