What a Great Idea!

Have you ever heard of something and thought, “Why didn’t I think of that?” You know, something like Post-Its or super garlic presses or a coffee shop that sells 10 oz. of coffee for $4. Those type of things that everyone should have/need/use.

I was reading US News & World Report yesterday and came across just that thing. First let me give you some backstory—there have been many days recently when I’ve thought that if I weren’t on my deadline, I would be walking on my treadmill instead of sitting on my butt with my laptop. Well, wonder of wonders, some people have invented contraptions to secure your laptop to a treadmill! I’m not kidding.

Some folks have built their own treadmill desk or you can buy the Cadillac of treadmill desks, the Walkstation. (BTW, the Walkstation site has an interesting video to explain their product.)Well, because I’m neither handy enough to build my own desk or affluent enough to buy a Walkstation, I’ve found a good alternative called the Net Runner which has a strap that holds a laptop on a treadmill. Yeah, I’m going to order it. I’ll give you an update in two months or five pounds, whichever comes first.

New pics!

I'm updating my marketing images, and here are two of my new portraits.

For nearly six years, my day job has been in the portrait photography industry. I'm a firm believer that the way you present yourself in your marketing materials helps to establish your professionalism in the eyes of the beholder. Everyone needs a touch of digital artwork to make them look their best--and it's cheaper than plastic surgery. But for the love of all goodness, please, please don't go all glamour shots on us. Hey, I've been around for a few decades, and I've earned my laugh lines. I'm keeping them in my images.

My new images were done by my friend Pauline Fortuna of Fat Tuna Photography.

We Don't Have To Dream

. . . of a white Christmas here in Colorado!

Have a blessed Christmas as you celebrate Emmanuel!

"God is with us!"

Pammer carded me and I'm responding. Uh, I don’t really know what the term “carded” actually means, but I’m like the geek in high school who isn’t on the “inside,” so I’m not going to ask. I’ll just go along with it.

Ronie Kendig altered this CARDED meme to include a Spiritual Wish list so we can know how to pray for each other, both spiritually and physically. Sweet!

THE RULES:

1. Each player starts with 5 gifts that they would want for Christmas.

2. People who are "CARDED" need to write their own Blog about their 5 things & post these rules.

3. At the end of your Blog, you need to choose 5 people to get "CARDED" and list their names.

4. Don't forget to leave them a COMMENT telling them they're "CARDED," and to read your Blog.

My Materialistic Gift/Wish List:

1. A new kitchen sink and a new bathroom. See I’m not as spoiled as some people may think. Jewels, electronics, vehicle, ets. are not on my list. I’m a really, really happy and satisfied woman.
2. The money to stay home and write. I stole this one from Pammer. I know that day will come, but until then I’m locked into the dreaded day job. (Part-time though, praise God!)
3. Anything from JJill.
4. A new purse. The one I have is beginning to show wear.
5. A weekly housecleaning service. Boy that would be nice.

My Spiritual Gift/Wish List:

1. Discipline to spend more time in Bible study.
2. The ability to look outside of myself more and see the needs of others.
3. The ability to be more organized.
4. Discernment to know what is truly important and what I should just let go.
5. Wisdom for everyday living.

The people I carded are:

1. Heather Diane Tipton
2. Jan Parrish
3. Tonya Vander
4. Paula Moldenhauer
5. Jenny Cary

Oh, I used that photo of Belle because it makes me laugh. She's really a cute dog and her head is not really two sizes too big for her body.

The Fun of My Writing Journey Continues

Several months ago novelist Deb Raney emailed me to invite me to participate in her website, The Plot Thickens. The site is devoted to novelists and their garden spots.

Well, I just checked in and discovered she’s already put me on the site. Believe it or not, I'm between Mary DeMuth and Robin Lee Hatcher. What fun!

I don’t mind telling you I’m a little intimidated to be listed with all the other fine authors there.

That Deb, she's a clever girl to create such a cool site, and she's a dear to maintain it. Have fun checking out the garden world of your favorite authors.

Where Did The Week Go?

I can barely grasp the day before it evaporates. And now it’s Saturday night. The week’s gone. Not that it’s a bad thing. I’ve had a glorious week.

I’ve gotten a lot written on my wip. I actually made myself laugh and cry this week.

I had a great week at work with some wonderful, energetic, creative women. We laugh and work and laugh and plan and laugh and create beautiful marketing pieces. I think, for a writer, I’ve got the coolest job ever.

On Wednesday I had dinner with my peeps. Jan, Tonya, Sharen and Heather. We laughed, cried, ate and prayed. Oh, boy, did we pray. I hope you have wonderful friends to pray with. It can change your world.

That's a photo of Heather and Jan laughing. We met for coffee before dinner.

Then they settled down and let me take a nice photo.

The weekend has also been jam packed with amazing, sweet, uneventful family time.

Oh, and it snowed in Colorado. Beautiful, fluffy, sparkly snow.

I hope you had a blessed week too.

Miracle Monday

Please join with the saints and pray for Kristy Dykes at 3:30 p.m. on Monday. Her husband Milton requests, “Please share the word with everyone who will join in prayer this Monday to eradicate through prayer that which cannot be killed by radiation.”

Kristy has been diagnosed with a Glioblastoma Multiforme stage four tumor. According to all reports, except the Word of the Lord, this is terminal, and without a miracle she will not live long even with radiation and chemotherapy.

Please visit Kristy’s blog and read the heartwarming and loving story of this journey as seen through the eyes of Kristy and Milton.

Watch This!

My friend and writing mentor, Angela Hunt, had her book The Note made into a movie by the Hallmark Channel.

It looks like it is a wonderful family movie. Watch it tonight on the Hallmark Channel, and then go to your local bookstore and pick up a copy of the book. While you're there, pick up a copy of Angie's latest book, Doesn't She Look Natural. It's on my Christmas list.

*UPDATE*
I very much enjoyed the movie, and it brought a tear to my eyes more than once.

Good news--there are encore airinngs: The Note will also air (on the Hallmark channel)
Dec. 13th, nine p.m. EST
December 18th, 9 p.m. EST
And Dec. 25th, 7 p.m. EST.

Give yourself a nice Christmas moment and watch the movie.

Hanging Out

Good news/bad news. My awful sore throat is gone/now I have bronchitis.

I'm still home, and to tell the truth, I'm sure my co-workers don't want me in the office spreading my cooties.

So, here I sit in my corner of the world, which happens to be the corner of my living room, next to my ginormous Christmas tree. You can see my laptop on the footstool in front of my rocking chair.

My writing buddy (dog Belle) is keeping me company. She's learning to live with the Christmas music. Lucky dog, at least I can't sing along to further torment her.

Working--finally

Yippi--the fog is clearing from my brain and I'm in the writing groove.

God bless you~now get to work yourself!

It looks like someone's not appreciating my Christmas music.

Just one of those days

I’ve been a bit under the weather since Sunday night. I’ve even stayed home from work the past two days. My doctor says I have strep throat, but after a day of medication, I got worse. Who knows? I’ve been hanging out with my head feeling like it’s stuffed with cotton (actually it feels like it’s stuffed with something else, but I’m too much of a lady to say what.)

Late this afternoon, I got into the writing groove for the first time in a few days. My dear daughter borrowed my laptop, so I was using the PC. I finally finished that chapter that’s been bugging me. I wrote it. Deleted it. Rewrote it. Deleted most of it, and then this afternoon, I nailed it. Unfortunately, I was working off a jumpdrive in the PC, and an error occurred.

Aargh! The entire file went poof! I lost the good chapter I had written and the entire file containing my book that was on the jumpdrive disappeared as well.


That's an illustration of my heart breaking when I realized my stupid mistake. Now, it’s not the end of the world. I still have the document on my laptop—minus the new chapter. Funny thing, a few moments before disaster struck, I was recalling that someone on the ACFW loop said that you should never work off a jumpdrive in a computer, and that you should put the document on the desktop.

Lesson learned. The hard way.

Whoops!

Guess what? I’ve done it again. I’ve bought a Christmas tree that some people in my family (read: dear husband and darling son) may think is a little too large. I’m fairly certain when he left for work Friday, Dear Husband said something about a 7’ tree.

Well, my 23 year-old-daughter and I went out to that ginormous home-improvement store with nothing but the best intentions. It turns out the 7’ trees were a little old, but the lot attendant said they had just gotten a shipment in, and would we like to see another tree. Poor innocent dear. Did he really think two women would look at ONE tree and say, “Oh, perfect. We’ll take it.” How naïve could a guy be?

Anyway, after the good hearted fellow unwrapped about four trees, he offered to give us an upgraded tree for the lower price. What woman doesn’t like a bargain? We said yes. (In hindsight, I think he was trying to get rid of us.)

We bought one that was categorized as a 9-10’ tree. Yowsa. The attendants tied it to the roof of my car, and we were on our way. We manhandled it off of my Hyundai and leaned it against the wall of the garage. Believe it or not, the top of the tree touched the garage ceiling (which is high).

My husband and son wrestled it into the living room, both fearful that when it was released from the plastic mesh it would pull a “Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation” thing and thwap everything in site. But this lovely Noble Fir was more of a lady, and she gently relaxed her beautiful boughs.

It took almost all day Saturday to decorate. Oh, did I mention that my son measured it? It’s not a 7’ tree, and it’s not even a 10’ tree as it was marked. No, this baby is a full 12’!
And did I also mention that our tree stand is guaranteed for trees up to 9’ tall?

This afternoon, my beautiful tree took a fall. Yup. C-R-A-S-H. Oh, boy. We were able to stand it up again, but with just the two of us home, couldn’t situate it properly. When someone else comes home we’ll give it another try.

Until then, my elegant tree looks like that drunk girl who crashed the party and just looks a mess. The angel is hanging down the front of the tree and the ribbon is in disarray.

I’ve learned my lesson. Next year I’ll get a 7’tree . . .

(Maybe)