Tracy’s week of highs and lows…plus a new goal.

What I’m celebrating

My son turns 13 tomorrow! I’ve officially converted all my children to teenagers.

Excuse me, I have to go sit in a corner and rock quietly for a few minutes.

Not really. I’m actually excited about this. I generally like teenagers. I really like mine!

We’ll be having dinner out somewhere (he’s torn between two restaurants), going to see The Avengers, and of course, cake and presents!

What I’m grieving

My husband’s great aunt (really, more like a grandmother) passed away early this week. She was 95…and one of the genuinely sweetest, kindest, and funniest people I’ve ever met. I’m so incredibly glad we all went to see her at the end of March.

We’re going to miss you, Aunt Dear.

* * *

If I was visiting her now, she’d offer some cookies or root beer, and we’d talk, and then she might just compliment my shoes. I wore my green boots one of the days we spent with her, and even though she could barely see, she could see those boots and liked them! I think she’d appreciate this next snippet of my life:

What I’m on the hunt for

Cute, supportive shoes. My feet have particular needs, and dang it, so do my eyes. Supportive shoes do not have to be ugly. So I’m on the hunt for new possibilities that meet all of that. Bring on adorable arch support!

After I made this resolution last week, I found this card in a cute little shop. I’m going to frame it for my office.

Will you share your favorite, most comfortable AND cute shoe brands, Dear Readers?

What I’m pondering

“When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships are built for.”

-Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes

(Yes, I do highly recommend Women Who Run with the Wolves, which I’m currently reading. I will write a review of it when I’m ready. But if you can get your hands on it: go forth and read!)

What adventure I’m embarking upon

From today, May 18, to June 18, I’m committing to working on one fiction project, and one fiction project only. (Yes, the mysterious Project #7!)

I’m having a little “fear of commitment” jitters (I really don’t know how else to describe it), so I made a plan of action in case a sudden onslaught of fabulous ideas on every other project occurs:

  • I will write a minimum of 1,000 words a day on Project #7. ONLY Project #7. No switching between the assorted projects for this month.
  • If I get a brilliant idea for Projects 1-6, I will write it down and put the paper in their folder in my file box. That’s it. Otherwise, they are in the wings, waiting.
  • Any of those brilliant ideas don’t count towards that daily writing goal.
  • If I get a brilliant idea for Yet Another Project, I will make it a folder and put it in my file box for later.

I’ve made an appointment on my calendar for June 19 to evaluate how this experiment worked out.

(Did you notice I’m being very specific about my fiction projects? Yeah, I’ve got non-fiction ones too, and I haven’t even looked at that list yet. I know it’s at least as long…yikes!)

What are you doing this weekend, friends? Whatever it is, I hope you have a blast!

the starving soul at the feast of words

the starving soul at the feast of words

When I did Kel’s “mirror mirror on the wall” exercise, my top word was “unfocused.” When I wrote down the number of fiction projects I’ve been working on, the total was seven. These two things might…just might…be connected. time to take my own advice? I looked over that list of fiction projects again to decide… Continue Reading

Taming Your Dreams-Goals vs. Doing Something You Love to Do

There are many wonderful blogs out there about “following your dreams.” Tracy and I subscribe to many of them but for us, it was too overwhelming to just leap right into our big giant dreams. I mean, I wasn’t even exercising or taking time out to enjoy myself ever! If I couldn’t figure out how… Continue Reading

Kel’s Creative Eneavors-and the Goodbye to 500 Things Update!

Kel’s Creative Eneavors-and the Goodbye to 500 Things Update!

What I’m Painting: Landscapes I’m enjoying painting with oils. It’s much easier than watercolors. If you make a mistake you can just paint over it.  It does, however, take more time to finish than watercolors. The oils can take up to a week or longer to dry in between layers so you work on each picture for… Continue Reading