Happy Halloween

                                      I know I'm a day early, but Happy Halloween!

This I know for sure...

I like to find new recipes to try so we don't have the same things for dinner week after week. This week we tried four new recipes.

Two were okay, but we decided they weren't anything spectacular where we'd want to eat those meals again so we didn't keep the recipes. One we loved and have moved into our "favorite recipes" file. These recipes we make at least two times a month. One we didn't like at all, but it wasn't so bad that we decided to eat cereal instead. Yes, that has happened in the past.

We've already decided that all the dinners this coming week will have no new recipes. We need a few nights of knowing that we're going to actually like what's for dinner.

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work In Progress): I printed out the entire manuscript, all 356 pages of it, so I can easily move scenes around, mark areas that need more fleshing out, and see where I can add more romantic elements without them seeming to be forced.  

Quote of the Week: “When you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

What I'm Reading: I'll be starting The Duke by Kerrigan Byrne tonight. I can't wait. I've loved all of Ms. Byrne's books I've read so far.

Random Thoughts:  One of the goals I'm considering in setting for 2018 is to attend a writing conference. It's been a few years since I've attended one.

Random Photo of the Week:

                               A loving moment between Somebody and Mrs. Green.

 

Writing Hiatus

I hate to do it, but I'm putting my writing on hold until the first week of January. I have so many things going on that it's getting to be next to impossible to get any writing done and then I feel terrible because I didn't get anything writing related accomplished for the week.

If I'm honest with myself, writing isn't a priority right now. Wow, it bothered me to even write that. I want to write, love to write, but just can't find the time lately. There's a saying that goes something like, "If it's important, you'll find the time and if it's not, you'll find an excuse." Lately it seems I've been doing a lot of excuse finding, even if they are legitimate ones.

I was hoping that once I finished my licensing class for the day job that I'd be able to get back to writing on a regular schedule. It's been about a week and a half since I passed the state exam and I still haven't found time to write. And now that the holiday season is bearing down on us, things are only going to get busier.

I've decided my priorities right now are to get my holiday cards made and sent out before the week of Christmas (it may take me that long to get them all made) and to help my mom with Thanksgiving preparations and help with her holiday baking, shopping, and wrapping as well as take care of my own.

This week is already shaping up to be a busy one even with writing time taken out of the equation. I have two birthday cards to make for birthdays next week, two doctor appointments, one of which will be at least two hours, not including commute time getting to and from the appointment, and a promise to make banana bread with my niece one day this week. All of these things need to be accomplished after the day job.

By the end of the year, I also would like to take a 30 day writing class and sit down and write out goals for 2018 using the SMART method so I might have a better chance of accomplishing them.

So for now, no writing other than jotting down any ideas, dialogue, and such that might pop in my head at random times. 

This I know for sure...

While I don't believe I watch a lot of television, there are a few shows that are "must watch" for me. They are The Big Bang Theory, Chicago Fire, Grey's Anatomy, and Scandal. I have to admit I'm not liking Scandal so far this season. I'll probably continue to watch it though because it's the last season it'll be aired. Of course once Timeless begins airing again, I'll be watching that as well.

I watched Once Upon A Time from the very first episode through last year, but after watching the first episode this season, I've decided to stop watching it. I don't like that they are basically starting the whole story arc over again with Henry now being the "Savior" instead of his mother from the previous seasons and instead of the story focusing on Snow White, now it's Cinderella.

Are there any shows that are must watch for you?

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work In Progress):  I spent last week going over what I've revised so far. Unfortunately, I realized that my romance novel needs more romance and less...other stuff.

Quote of the Week: "Don't fear failure. Fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today." ~  Elissa Robertson

What I'm Reading: I'm still reading Come Sundown by Nora Roberts. The pacing of the book is slower than I expected.

Random Thoughts: I need to start devoting time to making my holiday cards for the upcoming Christmas/Hanukkah season. The problem is each card usually takes about 4 hours to make which doesn't leave a lot of time for writing. So my dilemma is do I set the writing aside (again) and work on cards or do I try to fit in both even though I know that one of them will suffer for it. Please don't suggest purchasing holiday cards instead of making them this year as I've already gotten comments from some friends and family members stating how much they're looking forward to their card this year.

Random Photo of the Week:

                                                    Somebody and his new toy.
   

Happy Monday?

Very few people I know like Mondays and we all dislike them for pretty much the same reason - the beginning of a new work week. Not that we all hate our jobs. (I actually like mine.) I think it's because we lose the sense of freedom that we have on the weekends or days off to do what we want or need to do when we want to do it instead of having to cram what needs to be done in at the end of the day after we get home from work when all we really want to do is sit and relax and destress from the day.

My favorite way to relax is on the sofa with a good book and a few cookies (okay it's closer to 4 or 5 cookies depending on the size) and sometimes a cup of tea. This in mind and knowing I had a mostly free weekend without a lot of things on my "To Do" list, I decided to make cookies. I wanted something a little different than the usual chocolate chip cookies so I pulled out a recipe I'd made in the past for orange chocolate chip cookies from the Two Peas & Their Pod blog.

The cookies turned out just as good as I remembered. I haven't made them since last fall. If you like chocolate with a hint of orange, these cookies are for you. They taste amazing and are very easy to make. Here's the link - Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do and that they make any crappy day you may have better.

This I know for sure...

I am now licensed in my field for my day job. Well, I will be once I receive the actual paper license from the state. I took the state exam on Wednesday morning and passed with a score of 88%.

I'm thrilled that I did so well (you only need to get a 70 to pass the exam), but I wish I had gotten 4 more points. Someone asked the instructor during the last class if she knew of anyone who'd gotten 100% on the state exam. She said the highest score received that she knew of was 91%. Of course, I wanted to do better than that.

While I'm glad I took the course and passed the exam as it will mean a pay raise, I'm very glad I'm done with the class and all the homework and studying required to pass the class final and state exam. Now I can get back to my regular writing routine and not have to spend every free minute with the class textbook.

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work In Progress):  Back to writing starting today. I'm hoping to get a decent amount done in the remainder of the week.

Quote of the Week: "You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it." ~ Margaret Thatcher

What I'm Reading: I'll be starting Come Sundown by Nora Roberts this evening.

Random Thoughts:  The above quote is from my page a day calendar. I liked it because it can apply to so many things - the battle to lose weight, the battle to get published, the battle to stop smoking, the battle to stay sober, and more.

Random Photo of the Week:

                                              Somebody sleeping with his new toy.

Studying, Studying, Studying

No real post this Monday. I spent the weekend studying for my classroom final exam that will take place today. I have to pass the class final in order to be eligible to take the state exam.

My employer must have a lot of faith in me as the course I've been taking the last two weeks is considered an accelerated class in that the class is only two weeks long. The regular course is taught over a two month period. He has also registered me to take the state exam on Wednesday.

It was a lot to learn and remember about regulations and laws and what applies and in what cases so while I feel ready to take both exams, I'm a tiny bit nervous. Send good luck vibes my way.

This I know for sure...

The instructor for the state licensing class I've been taking these last two weeks is very inspiring. She retired from her every day job when she turned 65. She said she was home for about a week and was already going crazy with nothing to do all day. She applied for and became the instructor for the class I'm taking. She teaches the class for two weeks once a month and has done it for the last five years.

She said this keeps her busy and yet allows her the freedom to pursue other interests and travel if she chooses. She is a firm believer that you should never stop learning. She takes classes in everything and anything that she is curious about. She's taken a semester in car repairs, a semester in plumbing, a semester in political science, a semester in the science of cooking. She's also taken dance classes, knitting classes, and calligraphy classes to name just a few things.

I love that she doesn't see her age as any sort of limitation of what she can do or learn. She inspired me to make a list of all the things I'd like to learn more about or learn how to do. Now to find the time to actually learn these things.

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work In Progress): No writing this week. I'm in the second week of class to receive my state license in my field.

Quote of the Week: "Push harder than yesterday if you want a different tomorrow." ~ Unknown

What I'm Reading:  I'm not reading anything for pleasure right now. I have a lot of nightly assigned reading for my class. 

Random Thoughts: I'm very glad my employer decided to send me to the day class sessions. While it can be a long day in a classroom (8:00am to 5:00pm with 30 minutes for lunch), it's only for two weeks. The night class sessions are twice a week for four hours each for nearly six weeks.

Random Photo of the Week: 

    One of my favorite childhood memories is collecting chestnuts during the fall season.

Time for Reading

With all of the things we need to do every day from working outside the home, taking care of our families which may include elderly family members, making dinner along with other household chores, it's hard to find time to relax. And if we do take some time to do just that, we end up feeling guilty.

Or you may be like me and try to multi-task by doing something "constructive" and relaxing at the same time. I like to watch The Big Bang Theory and Grey's Anatomy so I usually watch them while folding laundry or something similar. That way I don't feel like I'm wasting time watching television when there are things that need to be done.

I do try to read every night for about an hour before going to bed as a relaxation method. I find it works as a great way to wind down from my day so I fall asleep easier and hopefully will sleep through the night. I have suffered from bouts of insomnia for years.

I mentioned to a friend not long ago that I felt guilty about taking the time to read when I could use that hour to do something on my ever growing To Do list. A couple of days ago she sent me the following link for an article in Family Circle magazine about how reading for pleasure (and relaxation) is important for your emotional health. Link: How To Make Time For Reading

After reading the article, I don't feel quite so guilty about taking time to read on a regular basis.