Trying Very Hard to Exhale

Posted Under: life

I’ve been on the cusp of getting several major things accomplished. That’s good right? But with getting things accomplished comes opposition and that’s what I’ve been dealing with on and off for a minute now–opposition. Some of you know I’ve had publisher woes after helping this same publisher (whose good at talking legalese–which doesn’t scare me in the least by the way) launch what was just a termite of an idea he had. A *user* plain and simple. I’ve already cautioned *my friends* to beware. The rest are on their own. Now I’m attempting to get reimbursed from him. Ha! Well, you can only imagine what it’s like to get blood out of a turnip–yes, it’s like that. I’ve had agent woes for the past two years, actually trying to find one who can get a call back in a timely manner is *hard* especially with editors and writers themselves trying to become literary agents–and I’m happy to say that my search may have ended, I just have to get her to read my 8th novel and move the whole concept forward–which is hard to do in the summer months because, well, everybody wants to beach it for the summer and do as little work that will make them sweat as possible. I have a part time job that is lending itself well to my writing and you wouldn’t believe the power trip that’s going on there. Exhale. So, today is a mental health day. I would love to get some reading done, but my head hurts too much. Oh, but time is scarce and I did manage to transfer all of my email addresses to my new email address so I won’t have to pay a newsletter service a monthly fee to send out a newsletter that ends up bouncing back from half of the recipients–so, I’m peachy about that. Use my contact form to send me your email address if you aren’t sure you’re on my list. You know I love y’all for stopping by right? Okay, well I’m off to the doctor. Oh yeah, you can comment now. Yay!

Thank God It’s Over!

Posted Under: life

I’m glad last week is over. I was tired, cranky, angry and woke up with an excruciating pain in my head two days in a row. Sodium is the devil. And sodium is everything. If you don’t believe me, check. Frozen waffles (I’ll sit here while you go to your freezer to check), anything in a can, soda, tv dinners (even Lean Cuisine) *smh* and mostly everything in a jar too from spaghetti sauce to…well, anything in a jar, like I said. I took something called Axert. I guess it worked, I’m not in pain anymore. I did however leave me feeling like I was falling and I could see the room spinning. I don’t think the trade-off is worth it now. I did go to the beach last week, Thursday evening and I can’t tell you how tranquil the beach feels. Then gnats and horseflies started biting us. It doesn’t help that on Friday we watched something on the Animal Channel about vampires or rather animals and insects that suck blood and can leave viruses in your body that can nearly KILL YOU. We never used to have a bug or insect problem at this particular beach, but now with gas prices making you pimp your own mama, everybody is trying to stay “close to home” and enjoy themselves and well, sometimes people are nasty–and nasty brings bugs. We might have to avoid the beach for awhile. I’m tempted to buy a bucket of sand and pour it on our terrace and play “let’s pretend we’re at the beach” though. I’m *this* close to doing it. Seriously. *Yawn* So, what’s new with you people? Anybody having a baby? Falling in love? Going on vacation? I want to see pictures!

P.S. Hang in there newlyweds!

What’s Important to Me in This Season

Posted Under: life

I’ve learned a long time ago that different things are important to different people, and not only that, the things that are important to people today may not be important to them tomorrow. So here is my list of what’s important to me in this season of my life. Feel free to share yours too.

1. My wonderful God-fearing husband.

2. Helping my son find a job in the computer field so he can utilize his degree.

3. Building my dream house on a 10 acre lot south of here.

4. Fishing and lounging in some really beautiful parks this summer.

5. My 401k and Roth accounts.

6. My overall health; physically, mental and spiritual.

I’ve Got Rotten Neighbors

Posted Under: life

You know the kind of neighbors that do what they want and feel that instead of living in an apartment that they’re chillin’ in their palatial estate. You know, they come out onto the terrace and cause a ruckus when their friends come over, they smoke and you can’t even slide your terrace door open in the summer because some of their smoke ALWAYS wafts over towards your window and then you have to inhale it. They are the ones who have pets and think that even people who don’t have pets wants to be bothered with them. I wrote a letter to my neighbor. I’m going to print it out next week and mail it. I’m tired and so are other people. Here’s the letter. Feel free to use it if you ever encounter the same problemo:

Just so you know, it is a consensus among the neighbors of how much of a nuisance the treatment of your dog is becoming. We can’t for the life of us understand why if you have a dog or wanted one that you leave it out on the terrace in the 90 degree heat, frigid cold in the wintertime and have it whining and yelping all afternoon long with a total disregard to those who live over you, next to you and across the yard from you. In case you weren’t sure, you live in an apartment. Your terrace isn’t actually the backyard of your own personal home or sprawling estate, meaning that even people who don’t want dogs still has to hear yours all afternoon and as late as almost 10pm at night and it’s annoying to the point that we have already contacted animal abuse (be on the lookout they’re coming to pay you a visit) and the next step is to call the local precinct. Maybe your dog doesn’t match the furniture anymore or maybe you just shampooed your carpets and don’t want him inside, but either way, YOU HAVE A DOG, so, give all of us who pay rent at ****** a break, will you? How would you like to sit outside with a fur coat on in 90 degree weather with no water bowl? Show some decency or empathy. But you probably won’t do that, because decent people don’t do what you’ve been doing to their pets, do they? In the meantime we’re hoping that if we can get enough signatures that you will be ousted from the apartment altogether. Sadly that won’t help your dog receive better treatment, in the event that you decide to move someplace else, but at least we can open our terrace doors without hearing the constant yapping, yelping and feeling the utter pity that settles in the bottom of our stomaches for having to listen to a helpless animal being treated the way you treat yours.

Friends or Acquaintances

Posted Under: friendship, life

I know it’s weird, but I’ve gotten to the point where I’m not letting anything or anybody mess up the happy life I have. If I’m paying for a service and not getting it, then I’ll stop paying. If I’m helping someone who doesn’t appreciate it, then I’ll stop helping. It’s amazing how freeing that can be. I want to revisit a thought. What is a friend. Many people have different ideas about what a friend is, but they differ from my idea and if you’re supposed to be “my” friend shouldn’t the “our” idea of friendship be the same? I’m just asking because some people view friendship as–I’ll call you once a year and come and visit only if it’s a special occasion, but that’s not my idea. That’s my idea of an acquaintance and that’s the problem, too many people are calling each other friends when they’re really acquaintances. Imagine that.