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September 21st, 2014 Yesterday I announced my intention to participate in Michael Wood's 10,000 step challenge. Today I don't think I could do the sugar part – abstain from added sugar for the whole month – without doing some sort of gearing up during these last few weeks of October. I need some mental preparation and lots of knowlege about food in general to be able to kick added sugar, so in addition to writing for you, I'm writing for me these last few September days. I'm making it a mission to collect things I can find easily and retun to when the Halloween candy hits the shelves. (Great time to decide to kick sugar – thanks, Michael! Lol!)
Michael Wood has a great flip book online to help with diet and exercise. The first page is a video about The Bitter Truth About Sugar. This video really made me angry about what the food industry does to us so they can profit off of our sugar addiction. It also made me realize I don't have to be a part of it. It also made me understand why I found it wasn't the wine that was causing my problems. Wine is not packaged and processed food loaded with added sugar. (Phew – this is quite a relief!) My few glasses on Friday and Saturday night is not what is making me feel awful all week long. It's the sugar hidden in the most amazing places that causes all kinds of bad things. Aging slows down metabolism enough and it takes a huge effort at my age to battle that. Couple it with overloading on sugar that my body can no longer metabolize and I'm heading for much worse than a few glasses of wine is ever going to do to me.
I am putting the link to Michael's flip board here so I know where to find it in a weak moment. I hope you enjoy it, too. Check out Smart Exercise and Diet. Let's “gear up” for October!
And so, as another day goes by, sometimes you just have to stop and seriously take care of yourself, and…I have written.
Found on the Koko FitClub Cape Cod Facebook page – lol!..
September 20th, 2014 Now that we have all participated in the ice bucket challenge, how about challenging yourself to improve your health during the month of October? My friend, Michael Wood, Chief Fitness Officer for Koko FitClubs, has presented us with The 10,000 Step Wellness Challenge. Ok, I'm interested because I already have half of it locked down – I'm very near or always over 10,000 steps a day, but it's the sugar part that I want to tackle.
Sugar, to me, is as addictive as any hard drug out there. All last year, until wedding week, I had the thing beat. Even during wedding week I did pretty well. My eBmi was perfect going into wedding week at 28.2. After wedding week it was only 28.6 after two weeks of wine and foods I should never have within my reach. I was pretty proud. So now why am I sitting at 29.2 and feeling it in my jeans? Sugar addiction. I fell off the wagon and didn't realize it. It was so slow. The sugar I consumed during the two wedding weeks settled itself in my brain and began the slow sabotage of my hard work to beat it all last spring. Granted, I'm an incentive-driven person and that mother of the bride dress I had to rock encouraged me, but do I really incentives to keep the sugar monster out of my life? Yes. I do.
This morning Koko FitClub tweeted Michael's website, which I didn't know about, and I was very excited to find. (Ashley, his Harvard Stadium Stair challenges are also posted there – gear up Chris Whiting!) I not only love the 10,000 step challenge, but more of Michael's fitness info and advice is exactly what I need to keep me on track and provide those incentives now that the the blue dress is no longer in the picture. I immediately subscribed and wanted to share this really good thing with you. So – how about it? Who wants to join me in the fight against sugar?
And so, as another day goes by, fall presents yet another mountain to climb, and…I have written.
(This needs to go on the bathroom mirror!)
September 20th, 2014 Now that we have all participated in the ice bucket challenge, how about challenging yourself to improve your health during the month of October? My friend, Michael Wood, Chief Fitness Officer for Koko FitClubs, has presented us with The 10,000 Step Wellness Challenge. Ok, I'm interested because I already have half of it locked down – I'm very near or always over 10,000 steps a day, but it's the sugar part that I want to tackle.
Sugar, to me, is as addictive as any hard drug out there. All last year, until wedding week, I had the thing beat. Even during wedding week I did pretty well. My eBmi was perfect going into wedding week at 28.2. After wedding week it was only 28.6 after two weeks of wine and foods I should never have within my reach. I was pretty proud. So now why am I sitting at 29.2 and feeling it in my jeans? Sugar addiction. I fell off the wagon and didn't realize it. It was so slow. The sugar I consumed during the two wedding weeks settled itself in my brain and began the slow sabotage of my hard work to beat it all last spring. Granted, I'm an incentive-driven person and that mother of the bride dress I had to rock encouraged me, but do I really incentives to keep the sugar monster out of my life? Yes. I do.
This morning Koko FitClub tweeted Michael's website, which I didn't know about, and I was very excited to find. (Ashley, his Harvard Stadium Stair challenges are also posted there – gear up Chris Whiting!) I not only love the 10,000 step challenge, but more of Michael's fitness info and advice is exactly what I need to keep me on track and provide those incentives now that the the blue dress is no longer in the picture. I immediately subscribed and wanted to share this really good thing with you. So – how about it? Who wants to join me in the fight against sugar?
And so, as another day goes by, fall presents yet another mountain to climb, and…I have written.
(This needs to go on the bathroom mirror!)
September 16th, 2014 Did a book ever make you feel warm and cozy and at home wherever you are? The Jan Karon books do that to me. How a series about the everyday life of an elderly episcopal priest can do that – I don't know. Any writer I know would NEVER tout that as a subject for a series. Yet – Father Tim has had an influence on my life that I just can't understand. Three years ago when I was going through the hardest time I've ever gone through in my life, the Jan Karon Mitford series brought me through. I remember hating to go to bed at night. Then I read about Father Tim being thankful for the pillow that held his head in his cozy house and that one passage put me to sleep many nights.
And now, the newest book of the series just came out. Get this – the title is Somewhere Safe With Somebody Good. Now if that is not THE most comforting phrase I've ever heard, I don't know what is. I'm totally smitten with this latest book. Sitting in my cozy living room, reading this book, smelling the apple pumpkin candle burning, loving the lighted fall leaves on my hearth – just gives me the warmest, most secure feeling I've ever felt.
That's my Somewhere Safe. Then I think about this man.
This is my Somebody Good. I am Somewhere Safe With Somebody Good. How blessed and lucky I am.
And so, as another day goes by, I urge you to try the Mitford series and find comfort like you've never known it, and…I have written.
If you want to start at the beginning – recommended – here are the books in order:
September 14th, 2014 For months now I've been very unhappy with my WordPress app. It's kept me from posting many days because of what I would have to go through to put in a photo. I updated the app on my phone and found that the photo resizer was gone. Before the update I could choose the size of the photo I was posting. Then I realized I didn't update my iPad so I still had the sizing capability on that there.
Stil, the hassle was not worth posting. I would sit on the patio composing a post on my phone. Save it as a draft. Leave my patio party and go inside to post the blog and photo from my iPad. (My iPad doesn't reach the wifi out on the patio – another issue I have to solve, another day.) Many times instead of writing the post, I opted for another glass of wine and continued the party.
Obviously this had to be resolved, but I have a habit of not resolving problems until “push comes to shove”. I finally did all 92 updates on my iPad then when I went to write the previous post, I found my photo capability was gone on my iPad, too. With working, my time is limited and I don't want it to keep sabotaging my blogging. So…after many months of struggle I finally found an app that fits my hurry-up and be convenient style. The app Blogsy is awesome! It allows to size my photos, but does soooo much more than that and makes posting on the go so much easier than that dumb WordPress app. There is a side panel that slides in and out and puts Safari as well as all my photos along with Facebook etc. right on my writing screen. Blogsy let's me pull up a website, tap a word in my post, drag the link onto the post and it creates the link. So easy compared to what I had to do in the WordPress app. Then I hit publish and it publishes it through my WordPress blog.
The photo problem was just as easily solved. I just drag in a photo from the sidebar and when I tap on the photo a new window opens that allows me to set the size and do a whole lot more photo editing right in the app. It also allows me to scroll up and down the post and place the photo anywhere I want it. The WordPress app only added photos at the end. So for you, my techy blogging friends, I suggest you give Blogsy a try on your phones and iPads and experience that tiny bit of joy that ease and convenience provides.
And so, as another day goes by, sometimes it takes something so stunningly simple to make me happy, and …I have written.
September 12th, 2014 …again. Apple unveiled its latest Tuesday and once again they didn't disappoint. I'm totally smitten – especially with the Apple Watch. What's not to love?
I've been wearing my Pebble watch that syncs with my iPhone for almost a year now, and I loved it. Loved it for what it does – not for how it looks. I love being able to have my texts, emails, and phone calls float across my wrist, but Pebble doesn't exactly make a fashion statement. Even when I bought my Pebble, I was not enamored by its looks. Despite it's wide choice of easy change bands, it is big and clunky on my tiny wrist and did not lend itself to dress-up occasions.
Even then I knew Apple was going to come out with its own version and I've been dreaming of a watch that did not yet exist that would fulfill my fantasies. And again, they did not disappoint. Here is my choice:
I know. Gorgeous. And what she can do cannot possibly be explained in less than 800 words. I'm also going to get a white sports band for her. Her. She's already a living, breathing entity to me. But alas, the only downfall – she won't be available until January. Late Xmas for me this year. And I bet she won't be cheap. (Honey, you have an extra month to save your pennies.)
And so, as another day goes by, dreams of jeweled watch bands and apps galore dance in my head, and…I have written.
Have a look at her.
August 31st, 2014 First the story is created. This story I’m working on was created as a classroom exercise by a woman I didn’t even know, at last year’s Cape Cod Writers Center Conference. When it was her turn to read her story, I picked up my pen and quickly sketched my version of her characters. At the end of class I turned around and showed them to her. A collaboration was born. Since then the story has been rewritten many times over the past year and now it is in the final editing stages and I can begin my work as the illustrator.
First a medium and color palette are chosen:
Pretty nice for a sea story and the chalk pastels lend themselves to blending ocean water beautifully.
Next, the story board is created. 32 pages, with the actual story beginning on page five and ending on 32.
Now the paging can begin. The story is cut apart into moveable sentences.
Finally the storyboard is built. The paging is done and notes for each illustration are written on each page. You need to see the story as a whole so you can see how the book flows and whether or not two page spreads are appropriately placed.
The next step will be to fill the storyboard with small pencil sketches for each page. Once that is done, the map for a long winter is laid out as each sketch turns into an actual piece of artwork.
And so, as another day goes by, it’s good to review where one has been, map out where one is headed, and appreciate where one is right now. It’s going to be good winter and…I have written.
August 30th, 2014 This morning I was cleaning the toilet. Ok, it’s what I was thinking when I was cleaning the toilet that prompted this post. I had just shown my husband my first illustration for my rocker friend, VK Lynne (meet her here and maybe kick in five bucks to help fund her upcoming tour) and I began thinking about this whole illustrating thing. It’s not “from” me. I didn’t set out to do this. I feel “taken” – “compelled to try.”
I made a real effort to go back to my own writing. Honest I did. But what happened? More people approached me to do work for them – and the thing is – I WANTED to. Now my whole next artistic year is planned. I have a new picture book, Alistar & Octavia by Sally Suehler, coming out in March of 2015 and I’m beginning work on VK’s children’s book of poetry now, too. (Oh the first poem I did is sooo cute – I can’t wait until this one is out to share with you!)
Without me even having a hand in it, Under The Clouds Press (see right) is taking on a life of its own. I feel like a bystander watching its progress. Under The Clouds Press was born quite by accident when I was illustrating and publishing Ralph (see left). When you e-publish with Amazon they make you make up a name to publish under. At the time my garage was a workshop for children’s writing workshops and the ceiling is painted blue with clouds. I thought of my young authors creating in there one summer and – boom – Under The Clouds Press was born and slapped on the publication of Ralph!
I’m thankful the projects are coming in at a rate that I can handle them…but while cleaning the toilet I began to think about the issue of charging for my work. There are prices on the website, but they don’t apply to my friends. My friends are all willing to pay – but I’m not ready yet to accept payment. My payment is just in the fact that they liked my work enough to trust me with their babies.
When say I’m not good enough, I don’t speak of my work. Clearly it’s good enough or people wouldn’t keep asking me to do it. I’m talking about my level of education. Each project presents its own challenge. There are problems to be solved along the way to production, and I learn tons by solving problems. I actually enjoy it. So when I say “I’m not good enough yet” it means I still have a lot to learn and I’m just thankful my friends are giving me a chance to use their precious projects to further educate myself.
I’ll know when to charge. Until that day comes, money for my work is the furthest thing from my mind. I gain so much by just getting the opportunity to do it, that I’m happy right where I am.
And so, as another day goes by, I feel God’s hand guiding my path, I’m not going to mess with that, and…I have written.
August 29th, 2014 Today I sit on the marsh side. For such a long time I sat on the ocean side, but today strength and wisdom are coming from time on the marsh side.
During this pause I realize the ocean side dealt with all the turmoil of a tough time. Some days it crashed – angry and hard. Some days it just lay there, soft and quiet, with barely a wave. Other days – cloudy, rainy winter days – it cried my tears.
Today as I walked the shoreline I couldn’t feel any of that. Then I rounded the bend by Scorton Creek and the pull to sit for awhile grabbed me. The marsh side is where it all ends up. The tides come in and go out, but not much changes. There is a sureness and a steadiness about the marsh side. I believe it’s where I go after the battle is done. After the anger has subsided. After the tears have been cried. After the years have gone by. After the lessons have been learned.
And so, as another day goes by, the marsh side is where acceptance and letting go culminate, the marsh side signals an end to the battle. From the marsh side I gain peaceful endings, and…I have written.
August 22nd, 2014 Thank you Stephanie for nominating me in the “thank you” challenge that has been circulating Facebook. Like the bucket challenge, it raises awareness. It gives us a chance to pause our busy life and stop and appreciate the things that warm our heart or make us smile each day. Of course we all list our family right off the bat. If anyone asks me what I’m most thankful for my family is my first answer. But that’s a given. In my challenge I’d like to look at things that surround me everyday, ordinary things that make me happy as I go through my hours.
Day 1
-the ocean that sits in front of my house. It’s such a source of peaceful energy even if I’m not on the beach.
-my fire pit. The place of many happy family and friend gatherings
-the sunrise over the marsh. Every morning as I turn off my TV, I look out my bedroom window and it seems like the sky is smiling at me.
Day 2
– Koko FitClub. The place that gave me my life back by providing me a place to return to teaching and helping people.
-Cape Cod Writers Center. A place I love to volunteer my time. They are responsible for helping me ignite a writing life.
-my Ottlite. An amazing light that let’s me follow my art passions in the light of any day or night.
Day 3
-Fridays. The day of the week that speaks “holiday”. All day long I look forward to my husband coming home and anticipate our weekend together.
-my gas grill. Just being able to hook it up to the house and never worry about running out of propane again is peaceful in itself.
-the amazing friends I have made over these past five years living on the cape. They are the people that keep me laughing and inspired in both good and bad times.
Day 4
-my living room. The place of quiet and solace I come home to every night. I take a deep breath when I sit in my chair and never fail to thank God for giving me this room.
-my car. I spend most of my days driving up and down this cape to five Koko clubs and my car is so comfortable and has all the amenities of a small home.
-my Cape Cod Dunkin Donuts coffee cup. The only cup that holds enough coffee to get through reading my email, Facebook and various blogs each morning.
Day 5
-the view out of my bathroom window. I stand there looking out of it for two full minutes everyday as I brush my teeth. That’s a lot of minutes over the course of a year. Here many prayers are said, ideas are born, and gratitude is given.
-my fuzzy lounging pants. Need I say more?
-my daily Cape Cod Times. It makes me feel connected to and informed about this beautiful place I’m so lucky to live in.
And so, as another day goes by, the thing I’m most thankful for is love. Love of God, family, and friends is the essence of life, and…I have written.
Richard Bartosik, Steve Goncerz and Ashley Bartosik consider yourselves challenged! Go..three things, five days!
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