Writing - the ups and downs

I had such high aspirations for June. I was going to visit with Jill and her family while they were here. I was going to soak up some sunshine as it had been a depressing dreary winter here in Ohio. I was going to get a real sun tan. None of that bottle stuff for me! I was going to get my next book, a book of short stories titled EZRA AND OTHER STORIES, copyrighted and formatted for Kindle. My grandson Daniel has agreed to convert it from text to   epub form. I planned to get back on track after health issues had been somewhat resolved. My pancreas block was a success. I was going to sell paperbacks at several venues and do some book signings. I decided June was the month to get it all together since Ray's back surgery had taken up the months of March, April, and May. He ended up having two surgeries and a wound pump that seemed to be on forever. I can report that the wound is 98% healed and we are two happy people. He had the wound and I had to wear a nursing cap...

The triplets arrived with their little brother yesterday.Of course, they brought their mom Jill too. I'm so excited to have them all here. I have to share them with their aunts but that's okay. Aunt Susan who lives on the hill behind us has a trampoline and a swimming pool. They've already worked both of those activities in. Last evening, they played ball with mom Jill in the backyard. R and I sat on the deck and watched. Today I have to get off the deck and join in. Yesterday just before they arrived I had to go to OSU Med. Center for a procedure on my pancreas. A block for pain. Today I can report that there is NO pain. So I'm assuming that it worked. Unless the pancreas is still asleep. Daughter Lisa accompanied me there. I made the mistake of eating on the way home. Not a good idea. They said I could but still.....I should have known better. But now that that worked itself out I feel really good. Thank God! I have so much to do with what life is left to ...

I'm excited to report that my book is complete and available at Amazon. I've waited a long time to hold that book in my hand and I have to say I was not disappointed when I received the first print copy. What a thrill. This is a story I've worked on for ten long long years. It took that long to give birth to it. I'm not disappointed. The writing and rewriting that went into it has paid off. Now, perhaps when I read it over in this paper format I'll see mistakes and kick myself for not going over it one more time. But honestly I reviewed and reviewed it until the lines sentences words all become one big glop of black on a white page. I could no longer see mistakes, could barely even see the story. So I sent it to the press. I'm praying that Vada Faith will shine and that I've made the story into one that is worth reading. Right now I'm trying to complete the proofing of a book of short stories to get on Kindle this summer. I'm not making muc...

In celebration of my birthday on June 8th, I will be giving away VADA FAITH free on Amazon, the ebook version  - both June 8 and 9th. I'm excited to be giving it away again free. This is the most fun I've had in ages, doing this project. That's what kind of life I have - boring - and now you know. Not much of one outside of writing and reading. I'll be going to the West Virginia Writer's conference on those days and hope to see lots of my writer friends there. It's always a fun time. Who can beat meeting new writers, talking about writing, attending workshops on writing, being in a park with all  the beauty of nature around me. I'm not excited to be another year older, but then again I can get excited when I think of the alternative. I'm not yet DEAD. I've had a great life. I have family that I love and who love me. What a blessing! I have a craft that I enjoy. And that hopefully brings joy to others. So with that said, here's a p...

I'm excited to be going to WV conference this year. While I don't have my paperbacks of Vada Faith - due now end of June - as I'd planned, I'm still pleased to be able to attend the event. I need a get away about now. This year my writer buddy Jill Sanders is going along. That means we can talk writing, editing, reading etc. non stop for the two days we will attend. I always love going back home to the mountain state for any reason. But somehow the trek to Ripley for this event means more than going home to me. It means bringing what little talent I have as a writer and the few successes under my belt to share with my fellow West Virginians who also share my love of writing and reading. Cedar Lakes where the conference is held is full of nature and wildlife and when I'm there I feel a sense of being one with the universe. Corny? Probably. True? Yes! An emphatic yes. So as we who attend the conference get ready for this coming week end, I'll be thinking...

I've kept myself from blogging lately because I didn't have anything uplifting to say. However, my mind is full of emotions and feelings and words that if I don't let them out soon, I'll likely explode. Since I don't want to explode here goes. We are still dealing with husband's health issues. Back surgery the end of March lead to another surgery to reopen the incision four weeks later due to infection. That surgery left him with a wound vacuum which I'd never heard of nor seen. It vacuums out the wound as the wound heals from the inside out. We've had non stop problems with the vac seal. While he was in the hospital the last time he grew quite weak and had to have some rehab in hospital before he came home. WE learned he was weak because of the strong meds and once those were withdrawn he felt quite well. Now home we're dealing with him being plugged in to the electric for part of each day. A pain for him, for sure. He has made several f...

                                                           Micro Wave     The only time Micro ever left his house was at dusk to walk his pug dog, Dumpling. Neighbors got used to the sight of the old man and the pug, both huffing and puffing with every step, as they made their way down to the old wooden pier, jutting out into the Ohio River. Once there, the two would sit on that old pier until dark or after, catching their breath and gazing out into the dark water.     "Didn't always have breathing problems," Micro said, "but years of chain smoking spotted my lungs. Now old Dumplin' here," he said, "well, he come to me snortin' and snuffin'. No bigger than my hand when I got him."  He studied the palms of his big calloused hands and...