Starting something new...

Back to the old drawing board. 

Starting something new and seeing how far I get. 

Yippee!!

I'm throwing in the towel

Albeit, temporarily.

I know, I shouldn't give up just yet, but realistically, this isn't a good time for me to start exercising.  I need to get clearance from my orthopedist first.  Those jumping t's really hurt my foot even though I was wearing my boot.  I don't want to explain to my ortho that I was more of an idiot than he already thinks I am....   I mean, I did break my foot tripping over the dog.

So, I'lll concentrate on writing and editing the current manuscript.  

And, I'm off to do that right now.  :)

Epic failure

I should have thought about that workout before I tried it. I mean, most of those exercises involved jumping... I have A BROKEN FOOT. 

Today's workout: Thor, the strength of Asgard. No jumping. 

Here's to a second first start!

The third day is always the hardest!

I almost didn't post tonight. I was finishing up a late night adult conversation with my husband while the kids were in bed (one of them in my bed, mind you) when I thought about it. I blew it off and mentally prepared for my failure (yet again) of doing something daily. But, then I remembered that I finally found a great website with a whole bunch of new workout routines (as recommended by a fellow Redditor). I am not fat by any means, but I am out of shape, with broken body parts, and going into a surrogate pregnancy. I want to get my butt into the best shape it can be in before I have little minions implanted in my womb.  Back on topic, though, and you now know that the reason I really want to keep up with this blog is because I also want to keep up with those workouts (after I try them and can positively - or negatively - review them I'll include a link to the workouts). And, it will be great practice for when I start the surrogacy blog. I was going to start it when the process started, but I realized it started six months ago and the blog would be very sporadic and boring. Maybe since we're in the middle of contract negotiations, I'll start it now. 

Either way, I'm of to bed. I have to drive to Vegas tomorrow and I need some sort of sleep. My poor body is still battered from pushing Gabez up the hill on his bike while he kept the brakes on. 

I know I'm a write because...

 I received an email from the fine people at NaNoWriMo that had the fine subject line of "I know I'm a writer because..." and it sent me a link to where hundreds of people had submitted the ways they knew they were a writer. 

I blew off the email but didn't delete it. Hmmm. I was looking at it again just before I remembered I promised to come back. Here I am, and that blasted email is all I can think on. 

I don't know I'm a writer. Sure, I've written two novels, 3 children's bedtime stories, and countless short stories.  I've delved into fan fiction and created original stories/characters. I've written G, PG, R, and XXX material. I'm always writing or thinking of something to write about. I wake up from dreams with plots for new manuscripts and titles of books I simply must discover how to get to the masses. I love writing nearly as much as I love reading, and that's saying something (that's just between you lot and me)

So, why couldn't I answer the NaNo question? Why did I suddenly feel like an abject failure?

I haven't had any success. Commercial success. My fan fiction had thousands of fans, but my original works haven't sold a single book. I know that has as much to do with marketing as it does withmy actual  book, but that doesn't make it sting any less.

Hundreds of people will download my books if they're offered for free, otherwise they just sit there and gather fake Internet dust.

Maybe someday, if/when someone who is not related to me sees one of my books and decided to buy it. Maybe then I'll be a real writer

Unit then, I'll leave you with this.

I know I'm a writer because I haven't made it yet. 

It's a new year, expect big things!

The old year went out with an unexpectedly alcoholic bang. I might have blown an opportunity for an amazing freelance positioned by hitting send on an application I had filled out while buzzed. I thought it was witty and brilliant.  I even had the good sense to have my husband read it before I submitted, but as he'd been drinking far longer than I, that probably wasn't the superb choice I thought it to be. Ah. Hindsight is 20/20, as they say. I refuse to dwell on that mistake right now, who knows, maybe my wit wasn't too over the top. Maybe they'll applaud my grammar and spelling skills while inebriated. Maybe they'll be impressed by my ability to bash the Internet, the very medium of the job offer. Yikes. I'll just go back to not dwelling on it. 

2014 brings some wonderful opportunities for me and my family. 

We are in contract negotiations for me to be a surrogate for a wonderful family who cannot have children. If all goes well, I might be up for doing it again in a year or so. I've had two easy and fun pregnancies, so I'm really looking forward to the little belly full of life. 

I recently met an awesome editor (the proper use of the word awesome, in this case, his expertise and knowledge instill awe and wonder in my both my brain and heart) who has agreed to work with me on my new manuscript. I didn't cry at his criticisms/changes/suggestions, which is a first for me. The editing he did on the first few pages has made a huge difference. I can't wait until it's done. 

I am hoping to attend WyrdCon this year in LA.  Jim Butcher, one of my favorite authors and creator of Codex Alera and Dresden Files (two of my favorite series of all time), will be leading an intensive 6 hour writing workshop. The opportunity to learn from such a talented and successful author is making me giggle a little bit just writing this. 

Plus, it's entirely possible that my family will also be able to come to the convention and then we'll head to the dreaded DL or maybe Knottsberry Farm. I promised Elee that she would get to go to a theme park if she maintained excellent behavior for her entire Kindergarten year. So far, she's only had one day where she didn't achieve a purple star (the highest level meaning that not only she did her work and behaved all day, but also demonstrated good choices and going above and beyond). That day, she got a green, which is still doing all her work and behaving well, so we let that slip provided she doesn't get too many of them. 

Gabez enters the year having been working with a speech therapist after his ear surgery. At two, he has a very limited vocabulary even after four months of therapy. It seems like he's learning more words, or trying to say them with prompting every day, which gives me hope. He's even started using his words voluntarily once in a great while. The first time he said momma by himself without prompting I almost cried. It is wonderful to hear it in his tiny voice. 

So, As I sit here longing to write the next chapter in my manuscript, watching my kids fascinated by cookie cutters, I know that I'm really off to do dishes. Blah. Such a glamorous life I lead. 

Next post coming tomorrow. I swear. 

Bonus pic of Izzie, our 7 month old Newfoundland puppy.