Retired - So What's Next?

When I left work this morning at 7:00 AM, I was officially retired. Wow! I don’t think the reality will hit me until Friday, when I won’t have to go nap so I can go to work that night. Saturday will roll around, and I won’t have to spend most of the day sleeping. Sunday morning, I’ll be able to attend adult Sunday school and church without fighting to stay awake after working all night.

How many times have you heard people speak of their childhood or teen years with a sense of loss, wishing they could relive that time in their life? I have always enjoyed the unique challenges and opportunities that have presented themselves at each stage of my life. I’m not saying I haven’t remembered parts of my past with fond nostalgia, because I have. Still, I prefer to look to the future rather than dwell in the past.

This is my second retirement from the nursing profession. Those of you who have read my personal page on this site know that I retired from the VA in 2001. Now, I am retiring from Colorado Boys Ranch, where I returned to work in 2003.

So what now?

I may have left a job at the Ranch, but I hope to remain connected to the facility. I hope to donate my time by writing for their newsletter. I’ve been asked to do so and look forward to contributing what I can to promote the good that the Ranch does for troubled kids.

My biggest and most exciting challenge lies in my editorship of a new magazine entitled Starsongs, a publication of Written World Communications. Starsongs is targeted to 12-19 year olds and most of its contributors will be in that age group. This association with Written World will enable me to build a speaking platform. I plan to contact schools for speaking engagements and talk to teens about basic writing skills while promoting the magazine.

Recently, I started visiting a friend’s dad who relates his past experiences as a rancher in Colorado. His stories of childhood and “the dirty thirties” have given me a whole new appreciation for the farmers and ranchers of this great state of Colorado. I feel so privileged to spend time with this man who loves to write stories and poetry about his life. And, oh, does he love to talk about it all! He is such fun.

Our granddaughter, of course, is a great source of joy to both my husband and I. It will be so nice to enjoy the Saturdays we spend together without having to worry about getting enough rest to go to work. She is at that age where she is interested in everything around her, and we are so fortunate to be able to view the world through her young eyes.

I have participated in a class at my church entitled “Discovering God’s Vision for Your Life: You and Your Spiritual Gifts” over these past few weeks. We will get together for another couple of weeks to discuss ways to implement what we have learned throughout our congregation. Then the hard work will begin. This new venture will most likely generate resistance and resentment, but those who embrace it will find themselves personally and spiritually richer, I’m sure.

A couple of days ago, I blogged about my daily exercise routine. I wanted to begin to build that habit before retirement. It’s only been two weeks, but already I consider that half hour as an essential part of my day. I furthered my commitment to better health by joining our local “biggest loser” program in the hope of shedding a few pounds over the next twelve weeks.

I plan to organize and weed through an accumulation of years of “stuff” at the house, from kitchen cabinets to desk drawers. I have dozens of books on my bookshelves begging to be read, and magazines with a wealth of knowledge to be learned, not to mention dozens of articles or short stories or poems or whatever to be written. I have friends to go to lunch with and friends to write to and friends to travel with and family to love.

And to think there were people who advised me not to retire so I wouldn’t get bored. They’ve got to be kidding!

Come visit me on the porch over the next few weeks as I embark on this new adventure called retirement. I’m excited about this new chapter in my life and hope you will join me on the ride.

Thanks for reading my blog!

A Gentle Nudge

We got snow yesterday! Today, the sun came out, so we now have a muddy mess. This morning, though, it was fun to stand on the porch and look across the fields of pure white snow.

Ever notice how God has a way of nudging you to stick to your commitments? Last week, I made a commitment to return to the exercise group that is held at our nursing service every weekday. I started last Tuesday, thinking they had not met on Monday since it was a national holiday, Martin Luther King Day. Turned out they did meet, but I thought I did pretty good by making it for three days the first week. Can’t remember now why I skipped Friday.

This week, I was faithful about going every day, but decided last night that four days was plenty, so I was going to take off this morning. Our exercise group meets at 8:00, so I have to be up by 7:30. I decided last night that I’d let myself sleep in until 8:15, which would give me enough time to get to the class I was to attend at the church at 9:00.

The phone rang at 7:35. It was one of the other class members calling to tell me the church class had been canceled. Now that I was awake, I had a choice to make. Go back to bed and sleep as long as I wanted or go to exercise. Man, those blankets looked good, especially since I could tell it was cold outside. Did I really want to tramp through the snow to get to my pick up in the garage? What if the roads were icy and I was late getting there anyway? What if I showed up and no one else was even there because of the weather?

Still, a quiet voice whispered at my conscience, telling me to quit making excuses. So, I did clop through the snow in my old snow boots to the garage, maneuvered my vehicle through the snow and kicked it into four wheel drive when I saw the road where I live had not even been plowed. I was glad I did because several of the “regulars” were there. I want to become a “regular” again!

Every time we jump a hurdle that stands between us and our goal, the stronger our determination to succeed. When we allow a simple bump in the road to halt us, we take a step backward in our journey. Sometimes the road seems so long, but each step we take brings us a little closer to our goal.

My goal in this area of my life is to get my body back in shape. I want to lose weight, gain muscle strength, and form the habit of participating in a work out that will keep my heart healthy. Even these past two weeks have helped me feel better. I keep focused on how I will feel in two months, six, a year, if I only stick with it.

Suppose God knows what’s best for me and that’s why that small, still voice nudged me out of bed this morning? I’d be willing to bet He does.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Magazines - Trash or Treasure?

There was frost on my windshield when I headed out for exercise this morning. It’s a bit too cold to spend time on the porch these days, but I’m glad to have you stop by anyway. Button up your jacket and we’ll keep an eye out for the snow that’s predicted in the next couple of days.

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to actually read the magazines I receive in the mail. For the past several years, they have accumulated on my coffee table until the stack gets so high that I finally relegate them to a back room bookshelf with a vow to “someday” explore what waits behind the pages. More time goes by and they end up either at the library or in the trash recycle bin.

Funny thing is, I am not much of a magazine subscriber. Most of the magazines I receive are a result of my membership in various organizations. I receive Toastmasters, AARP (the magazine and a newsletter sort of thing), NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees), and a VFW Auxiliary magazine, plus a fairly thick Colorado Nurse newsletter.

The magazines I subscribe to are, you guessed it, writer’s magazines. Writer’s Digest, The Writer, and The Christian Communicator all appear in my mailbox on a regular basis. I glance at the article titles on the cover and think, “wow, can’t wait to read that!” But a month goes by, then two. The latest novel captures my reading time and the magazines are left to gather dust.

So, I have decided to prioritize. The most important articles, at this time in my life, pertain to writing, so my writing magazines now sit at the top of the “to be read” stack. My next order of business is to choose which articles to read and which to pass over. I’ve had to put my OCD tendencies aside and discriminate as to what will benefit me the most in my writing career at this point in time.

Right now, I’m interested in exploring magazine article writing and short work. Next comes my passion for my WIP (work in progress), so any information that adds to my knowledge of novel writing is bound to catch my eye. Articles about finding an agent and interviews with authors who write in a genre far removed from my own are not as pertinent to me as the ones that address my immediate writing goals.

After the writing magazines are read, I can pick and choose what pertains to me in the other magazines. I don’t have to read every word about an article that speaks to caring for an elderly parent in my home, for example. I’m not in that situation.

I’m finding that there is a treasure of information in magazines. In fact, I have started to apply one of the ideas set forth in an article I read yesterday to my life. In a couple of days, when I see how it works out for me, I’ll write about it.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Haiti Horror

It was a fairly warm day here on the porch, especially for January. The temps were close to 60 degrees, while on the other side of the state, the news says a blinding snowstorm with blizzard conditions is raging.

As I sat in the comfort of my living room this morning reading the daily newspaper, I thought about those people thousands of miles away who are struggling to survive the aftermath of the devastation that struck Haiti a few days ago. I cannot begin to imagine the trauma, the heartbreak, and the devastation these people are facing.

In 1977, a fierce wind descended on our town. The 100 mile per hour winds sent debris flying through the air, left six foot snowdrifts in the pastures, and destroyed my home, a 14X78 mobile home. Still, I had a friend’s home to go to where I was safe and was relocated in a comfortable rented room at the facility where I worked at the time within a couple of days. Sure, I lost some of my possessions, but my loss is infinitesimal compared to what these people are experiencing.

The survivors in Haiti are mourning the death of loved ones, living in squalor, starving, and in desperate need of medical attention with no knowledge of when the end will be in sight. I can’t get my head around the thought of such an existence. My heart breaks as I think of the people who are suffering excruciating pain because there is not enough medication, those who have had limbs amputated because of gangrene, the wave of disease that will occur as a result of contaminated water.

I would like to direct you to a blog that was published in our local paper today. It is written by a doctor who is in Haiti working with health4haiti. It will give you some idea of what those who have volunteered over there are facing. Please donate what you can to the people of Haiti through the venue of your choice and, most of all, pray for God’s presence and comfort in the earthquake torn city of Port of Prince.

Thanks for reading my blog.

Madison's Restaurant

Time out for a little creative fun with my granddaughter. She loves to play restaurant, and this evening, we thought we would expand on the business a little bit. Here is what we decided to do!

MADISON’S RESTAURANT

Madison’s Restaurant will be closed for cleaning and training as we upgrade our establishment to bring you the finest in dining and family entertainment

We will open for business on Monday January 18th

Hours of operation 7 days a week 7 AM to 9 PM

You can find us at:

5882335 Sunrise Circle
Pumpkin Art, USA
333-555-0123

A meeting of Madison’s restaurant staff was held on Saturday January 16, 2010. The following topics were covered.

Present: Madison – Restaurant Manager Grandma Pat – Assistant cooker Pappy – general maintenance & part-time cook

New items & advertising strategies:

Vacuum cleaner – We have acquired a small vacuum cleaner for quick pick-ups. This will come in handy when crumbs are spilled or for cleaning pet hair customers may bring in on their clothing.

Exercise bike – This has been added to encourage customers to stay fit by taking a few minutes to exercise after their meal

Gym mat & balance beam - Young kids love to practice their acrobatic skills on a soft, safe, and sanitary mat. (we use disinfectant wipes to keep our equipment clean and germ free). Balance beam adjusts to different heights. Be sure an employee is always there to supervise children on this equipment.

Internet café – Sometimes customers need to send an email or look up some info on the web. We have it! State of the art laptop computers available with wi-fi.

Washer/dryer – Some customers travel through town and don’t plan to stay the night. Here’s they can do some laundry they may need for the rest of their trip. Brand new washer/dryer offers a variety of cycles from quick wash to heavily soiled items.

TV – HD TV with cable - also accessible for DVDs/Videos

Play room – for children under 11, a variety of games, puzzles, and other entertaining toys are waiting for the younger set here! NO ACROBATICS IN THE PLAY ROOM!!! No weapons such as play swords or play guns are allowed, but other toys are allowed.

Live Entertainment

An acrobatics show is presented every night from 5-6 PM. Watch this talented young lady perform with grace and beauty while you dine.

Specialty foods:

Frito Pie
Tostadas
Macaroni & cheese with hot dogs
Fish and buttered noodles
Pork Chops and mashed potatoes
Chicken noodle soup (sick plate)
Turkey & Swiss cheese sandwiches
Tuna fish sandwiches
Variety of chips as available
Fresh fruits in season
Vegetable variety
Pancakes

Drinks:

Water
Milk assorted soft drinks (caffeine free and diet available)
Vitamin water
Flavored water
Coffee

A surprise candy is served with each order. See what we choose each month to satisfy your
sweet tooth.

Thanks for reading my blog!

In With The New – But Keep The Old

Last evening was one of those “do what you want” kind of evenings for me. I get them once in a while. Leftovers are heated in the microwave, no meetings to attend, and our precious granddaughter is with her dad’s family after school.

I spent the first part of my evening reading a book I never would have dreamed of reading six months ago, James Patterson’s Maximum Ride: School’s Out Forever. So why in the world would I, a dyed in the wool western genre fan, be reading a suspense story aimed primarily at young adults. Anyone who knows me can tell you I am far from that age bracket!

It all has to do with one of my new challenges for 2010 as editor of Starsongs magazine. If I am going to evaluate submissions from young people, I need to know what is out there already that interests prospective readers in that age group. I’ve got to get in tune with this younger generation and explore their interests and the kind of stories they like. So, I’ve added some elements to my reading diet that I would have considered quite bizarre for my taste not all that long ago.

I started out by going to the library and asking for “Twilight”, which is the first in what seems to be the hottest series around among young people these days. All copies were out, so I put myself on the list to receive it when a copy came back and asked the librarian about another YA series. She introduced me to the Maximum Ride series. The main characters are intriguing youngsters, to say the least. I’m not saying I would want a steady diet of that sort of thing, but the stories (I’m into the second book in the series) are packed with action as Max and her flock of birdkids battle the evil erasers bent on destroying them. Everybody needs something different once in a while.

Twilight, once I got my hands on it, didn’t hold my interest as much. I guess that says something about me, that I can embrace the possibility of kids that, by genealogical experimentation, are able to fly easier than I can the concept of vampires.

After a few hours with Max and company, I did settle back to watch the DVD "Broken Trail", a good old-fashioned western. I’m willing to try something new every once in a while, but I will always be true to the genre I love best. Isn’t that the way it should be? We make new friends throughout our lifetime, develop new interests, explore new adventures, but we always remember the old with fondness. So it is with books.

Thanks for reading my blog.

Technology Woes

Hey folks, I apologize to anyone who tried to access my site over the past couple of days. I was shut down due to the fact that I clicked the wrong link.

When I attempted to access my site and kept getting an error message, I contacted my webmaster in a panic. She wrote back and told me my renewal was due on 12/31/09. I explained that I had a charge of $41.70 on my credit card from Doteasy that proved I did renew. She was able to access my account and discovered that when I responded to the renewal email, I apparently clicked a link that bought me a spamfighter feature.

Leave it to my most competent webmaster, Tiff Amber Stockton to get me straightened out and back on line! Thanks Tiff.

This technology still baffles me, where the wrong "click" on a web site can cost you more money than you intended to spend.

Now, can anyone tell me why my cell phone messages all have a date of 2016, even though the date on the phone is set to 2010??? Just my incoming messages, not my outgoing messages.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Five Writing Commitments for 2010

Our pastor delivered a sermon this past Sunday about commitments we should make at church for the New Year. As I contemplated his words, I began to think about the commitments that we as writers need to make in order to promote our writing success in 2010.

Put those rejections in perspective. Don’t tape those rejection slips to the wall in plain sight and convince yourself writing is not the profession for you. Take a look at those rejected articles, stories, poems, or novel length efforts. Make an honest evaluation of your work and the rejection that goes with it.

Did you approach the wrong market? Remedy that by studying a publication or publishing house before you submit.

Did you follow word count, content, and format expectations? Read the guidelines. No editor wants to waste time trying to muddle through something he or she can’t use anyway.

Does your work seem great to you, but keeps getting rejected? Run it past a mentor or critique group. A fresh pair of eyes can alert even the best writer to flaws in writing style, characterization, or plot.

Quit complaining! We’ve all done it, lamented a judge’s lousy scores. Stamped our feet in frustration when someone else’s book gets published that you know isn’t near as good as yours. Punched our tear-soaked pillow as we weather the sting of an editor’s words of rejection at a conference. Paced the floor waiting for an answer to a submission.

Remind yourself that there are people in the industry who know more than you do. Pick yourself up off the floor, look around you, and learn from the experience.

Keep in touch. Stay in contact with everyone you can, those who know more than you about writing and those you can teach about writing. Having been in nursing most of my life, I’ve gained a lot of knowledge by watching the behavior of others, and I, in turn, have taught others with my actions, sometimes without even knowing it until much later.

Affluence seldom describes the aspiring writer, so take advantage of everything you can find as cheaply as you can get it. Sure, the big conferences are wonderful and browsing the writing section at B&N fills a writer’s wish list, but it also drains the wallet fast.

Tap into the online writing courses. They are offered free every month at ACFW. Look around for writing blogs. There is a wealth of information out there, and most of it is offered by some of the best in the industry. Read the author interviews featured on the blogs of your writing friends. A good interviewer can glean a wealth of information from an author. All you have to do is take the time to click on the blog and read.

Check online for those writing books you would love to own. Nine times out of ten, you will find them at less than half the price they sell for in the stores. Sure, they may be second-hand, but I haven’t purchased one yet that wasn’t in excellent condition, despite the “used” tag.

Give up those bad habits. Oh, yeah, this is a tough one. Just like the resolution to quit smoking or lose weight, we writers all have expectations of ourselves as well.

Overcome procrastination.

Swallow your fear and submit something.

Set goals, whether it be a daily word count, a weekly minimum of writing time, or a plan to complete your novel before we celebrate 2011.

Bound and gag that internal editor! Bring her out when you are ready, and don’t let her hang over your shoulder constantly like an attention-seeking child.

Identify the culprit that is keeping you from writing success and fight it with everything you've got.

Submit to God’s will for your writing. Seek Him first! Pray about your work, even before you put a single word on paper. If the words aren’t working, go back to Him, talk to Him, ask His advice, and above all – listen to what He has to say!

Remember that it is for the glory of God that we as Christian writers are devoting our time and talent to this effort. Time and talent that He gave us.

Sure, money is nice and so is recognition for our work, but it shouldn’t be our ultimate goal. If God wants us to have it as a part of His master plan, then we’ll obtain it. If He doesn’t, then it wasn’t that important to begin with, was it?

Thanks for reading my blog.

Happy New Year!

Wow! 2010! Wasn’t it only last year we were back in the 90’s somewhere? Guess not! It is true that the older you get, the faster the time goes by.

I don’t know about you, but I gave up on “resolutions” a long time ago. I have learned that trying to made radical changes to your lifestyle on January 1st just because it begins a new year is impractical and lasts until somewhere around the 15th if you’re lucky.

So, I’ve traded the word “resolution” for the word “goals”. Even goals are no good unless they are tangible, and as we say at work, measurable. To say “I’m going to write more this year” is just too general and, frankly, lets me “skate by”. So, I need to get specific, be accountable, and probably do what I hardly ever do, which is write down what I expect to accomplish every week, or at least every month.

This is an exciting year for me because I have committed to some new projects, and people are depending on me to follow through. First of all, I am now an employee (paid in experience at this point, but that’s okay), of Written World Communications. My position is editor to Starsongs Magazine, a general market magazine for young people, written by young people. It’s an exciting challenge for me and one that I accept with eager anticipation. It will challenge my creativity in a new way and allow me to mentor young people who express an interest in publication.

I am currently involved in a class at church that explores our spiritual gifts, what they are and how we can use them within our church. As a result of that, I have agreed to coordinate our church newsletter. I look forward to this as another opportunity to be creative, to improve my writing skills, and to encourage others within our congregation to contribute as well.

The President of the residential child care facility where I work has mentioned that he would like to talk with me about writing for their quarterly newsletter, so I look forward to that opportunity.

It is my sincere hope that I will find more time this year to post on my blog with a bit more frequency than in the past. I’d like to gain a few more followers. Maybe as Starsongs takes shape, I will focus my posts on helping young people develop their writing skills.

The novels I’ve been working on forever, it seems, are always on my mind. I hope my crit group can resume the schedule we had established prior to the holidays. It kept me on track and made me accountable. (waving to ladies of crit groups 7 & 51). Sometimes I wonder if I’m truly meant to complete a novel. I remember telling a friend “if I don’t have a novel published by 1990, I’ll just give up on that idea.” Good grief, that was twenty years ago! I also remember the response. “Never give up!” So far, I haven’t.

Whatever I accomplish this year, writing or otherwise, my main goal is to see that I glorify God and always seek His will.

Here’s wishing all my readers a happy, healthy, prosperous, and very blessed 2010!

Thanks for reading my blog.