Friday, April 30, 2010

Procrastination

I have heard that everyone procrastinates. Some do it with regard to work. Some to play. But everyone, at some time, doing something, will choose to put that something off.

 I am no different. I do not procrastinate much with regard to my work - I mean my "real job" - although there are some tasks that are not my favorites. I'm even good with my play - In fact, that may be the only time when I never procrastinate. I'm always up for play!

But I find that my writing can easily take a back burner. (Which may be the reason why many times I sit down here and instead of writing begin reading and pretty soon, time has flown and I no longer have the time to write my blog update.)

Now, I do want to be clear. Not all of my writing is at risk. Sitting down and writing a chapter or scene for a novel is joy, pure and simple and I can always find time for that. But now comes the time when I've finished my novel. Finished the rough draft, the editing, the second editing, the third . . .well you get the idea. It's done. I've had my critique group read it, sent it off to several authors for reading, made more changes. Had it read by a published author who has given her blessing to approach her publisher using her name and now, after all that - I'm procrastinating.

All I have to do is take the already written query letter, attach the already written synopsis and the first three chapters, put them into an e-mail and hit the send button. That's it. Nothing more. Yet, I've been procrastinating for more than a week. And because I've spent this time writing, I can now procrastinate one more day, because I'm late for a birthday party. My how time flies!

Tomorrow. I'll do it tomorrow.








Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Serendipity Revisited

A few weeks ago I told you all about an amazing tea shop in Monrovia, California called The Loose Teas.

Having had such a wonderful experience there, I decided to try out my local "tea shop". I stopped in to the Biltmore to purchase a gift for a friend. I was quickly greeted and explained what it was I wanted. As I wandered around the shop with the clerk I explained that I was hoping to find something unique like what I'd found in Monrovia. Exasperated after not being able to show me anything that seemed appropriate, the clerk informed me that perhaps it would be best if I just went back to Monrovia to do my shopping. I must add this was said in a slightly condescending tone of voice. Well!

So, that's what I did. Look what I found.


                                                                                                   

I like the bold colors and the way . . .


                  It fits sooooo perfectly in your hands.




Sunday, April 25, 2010

Addicted

The first step is to admit you have a problem. 

I'm addicted

And it's causing all sorts of problems

My family knows about it

And it worries them

Even my dogs have noticed it

I'm no longer so available for them

For any of them

It's blogging my friends.

Not me blogging, but me reading all the incredible posts from all of you.

It's a sickness this need I have to know what you've been up to. 

I'm checking your posts early in the morning and late at night.

And I can't stop.


Monday, April 19, 2010

Saturday Event

-
My grandson had his first soccer practice.


His cousin and brother came for support.



He is only three.

All was going well.

Pretty low-key.



Until the coach said RACE!


It seems my grandson might be a tad bit competitive.


I don't know who he got that from!  :-)

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Day 2

The second day of fun in the sun, we arrive at the Embarkedaro for a boat ride to an island.


Where we swam with dolphins. 



After we took a cab to the end of the island where we ate lunch.
I know, we were always eating.
And then we went snorkeling.



After which I did the zip-line.
I have to be honest here.
I wanted to do a zip line over the forest, but all they had was one over the water.

We stepped over large iguana and were thankful that the mating season had ended the month before. 

Big Iguanas!
Good time.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Chichen Itzu

I promise I won't bore you with a whole lot of "photos of my vacation." Instead I will bore you with a few significant and great photos. 

Day 1 of play time. We shopped. 

Then walked around and took photos of some hugely terrific blocks of stone. 

And some photos of the "chip off the old block."


More shopping. I am only a woman.


Followed by lunch and entertainment. Yes, this woman is dancing with a bottle on her head. Yeah, I didn't get it either. 


And finally a dunk in a cenote.

The cenote I must talk about a bit more. All day they had told us we'd be stopping here and to have bathing suits on and be ready to go. Suit was on. I was ready. Then we learned that the cenote was a large hole with water, an underground river, it seems. (I'm still okay.) And that it was 159 feet deep. (I can swim.) And 91 steps down. (Well, I guess I should have brought my flip flops, but okay . . .) At step number 60-something, I ask number one son. "Did they say what the water temperature was of the cenote?" He mumbles, "no." BIG PROBLEM! I'm from Arizona, pool water needs to be oh, around 90 degrees or better. Needless to say, I spend a lot of time in hot tubs and not too much time in pools. But hey, we're on vacation right? You may never get this chance again. What you see in the photo is the swimming platform. Over to the left, out of the shot is the ten foot jumping platform that my son insists I climb and jump from with him. Never one to back down from a dare, I follow him up. The very nice attendant counts for us. One! Two! at Three my feet leave the platform as I turn to see my son watching me fly through the air. I lose my breath when my big toe hits the water, but thankfully not my contacts, which I hadn't thought about. I manage to regain the surface and gasp. My son has finally jumped in and is also gasping for air and chattering on about how *@!@#$% cold the water is. HELLO, I KNOW! 
But all is well, they give us free tequila on the bus to warm us up. 

Friday, April 16, 2010

Out of Focus

Today is my first day home in ten. I know I said I would share a bit about my trip to Cancun, but I've been a bit unfocused. First of all there are all my favorite blogs that I had to visit and catch up on - days worth. That completed, I have another issue. It seems that after being out of town for 10 days I have a bit of television on the DVR to watch - 63 hours to be exact. Does this mean I'm a television junkie? My husband seems to think so.

Anyway, I'm going to try to remain focused on telling you a bit about my trip before scurrying away to T.V. land.

Truly, I am fortunate in Life. The first morning we rose to The View of the ocean out of the hotel window. I spoke to a group of Pediatric Dentists, most of whom are in Private Practice.


Blah, blah, blah - I seemed to have no problem finding the right words. Later we went snorkeling in the ocean over a reef. Worried I'd get Lost and might find myself a Survivor on an island, I stayed close to our guide. From the surface we watched The Amazing Race as schools of fish, Brothers and Sisters, darted first one way and then another. I marveled at The Daily Show they must put on for tourists. I tried to spot Ellen-'sDorrie, but did not succeed. We did see turtles, stingrays and parrot fish though. Later we walked the beach, looking for sand Castle-s, seeing none In Plain Sight, we took a siesta. That evening we found ourselves Dancing, With The Stars above us. We talked about visiting one of the Mayan Archeology Sites. I hoped to take some photos of an early American Idol displayed on one of their massive monuments. I made a Mental-list of the gifts we'd need to purchase over a nightcap and then we were off to bed.


The next evening after more meetings, Saturday Night, Live music played at the Gala. We all had a great time and, fortunately, there were no Damages.

Whew, I'm so glad I could stay focused and get this posted. More later and I promise, even some photos.

(I came back and decided to add photos. : )

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Cancun

Sorry it has been a while since my last post.

I have been in Cancun, Mexico for the last 6 days. Three of them for business, I know, someone had to do it. And the other three relaxing, ahhhh, from the business. Anyway, I'm sure now that I'm back, you'll get to see some photos, only I got home to Phoenix late last night and had to fly to California first thing this morning. Please be patient.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Talking to strangers.

I read that I should go outside my comfort zone. One way I could do this was to take up an extreme sport like skydiving or tightrope walking in the mountains. Another way was to speak to someone in the line at the grocery store or at a coffee shop. I figured striking up a conversation with someone at the airport would suffice.

I did not get his name, we actually bonded over his dog. A "Westie" by the name of Ronnie something, something, something, something. Anyway, the dog was cute. She was going to Ontario, California to see her boyfriend, although her master assured me it was only a platonic relationship. He, the owner, seemed uncomfortable, apparently he hadn't read the same book and really didn't feel the need to move out of his comfort zone.

The encounter ended when his dog threw up inside her carrier. He cleaned it up and I disposed of the soiled napkins. I found a seat next to a couple that were sleeping.


Saturday, April 3, 2010

Nesting


Today my husband showed me his new friend. She has been watching him in the garden the last few days. Getting ready, it seems, for a big day soon. She has also been watching the dogs very carefully, but they are oblivious to her secret location. We shall wait.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Friday Follow




Birds

A leaf fluttered in through the window this morning, 
as if supported by the rays of the sun, 
a bird settled on the fire escape, 
joy in the task of coffee, 
joy accompanied me as I walked.
I was looking through my photos this week and what I noticed is that I've a preoccupation with birds.
And of course, in honor of Easter, chicks.


  
 

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Perspectives

I always find it so interesting how people see the same things and see them so differently.

Many years ago, while I was living in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a friend of mine came to visit from the West Coast. There are very few routes into Jackson from the West, well from anywhere and my friend ended up driving in over Teton Pass.When she got to town she was shaken, in fact completely frightened. Her entire stay was difficult, you see the mountains made her uneasy. She was scared, thinking they could fall down. Crumble and then what would happen. I remember thinking how odd.



I'm editing another friend's manuscript and in turn, she's been reading mine. My character sees the Pacific Ocean for the first time and in the margin my friend from Wyoming wrote: "I remember the first time I saw the ocean. It was so flat and you could see forever. It frightened me. There was nothing to protect you. I couldn't wait to get home and feel safe again."

Soooo interesting!