IWSG July 2015

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

It feels like I've been gone forever!

FIRST, Authors Against Child Slavery campaign: 
This is where authors donated books to people donating to Operation Underground Railroad--we achieved our goal--with two days to spare. Well, with two days to spare, we met our goal! Thank you for everyone who contributed, whether by donating books, money, or helping to spread the word.

SECOND, Vacation
I'd like to say that my vacation to Hawaii to visit my daughter and the kids was a dream. Let's just say that the trip involved:
* a burning smell inside the plane on take off that which delayed our arrival
* calls from work that had me scrambling and turned the second half of my vacation into a working vacation
* charming grandkids who I just love being around
* MineCraft - yes, they taught me how to play

 THIRD but not last -- IWSG ... and grammar
Somehow, it seems fitting that after a long blogging break I should return on IWSG day. It will force me to keep it brief.

A grammar lesson from Game of Thrones:

How has your summer been going so far?
Have you taken your vacation yet or are you still making plans?

Define Paradise

My daughter put on a fun Harry Potter party for her son. I love that my grandkids love Harry Potter. My grandson just barely turned 8, and he's already halfway through Goblet of Fire. Not too shabby. I got to help make the Owl Snacks and Cauldron Cakes. The Butterbeer was to die for.

I brought him a fun book--Bees in My Butt, which he and his older sister both read. Hilarious books. I'm going to have to get the others in the series.

 

I got my granddaughter Mist Warriors, and they both read that one. 

Then I remembered that I brought Confessions from the Realm of the Underworld (Also Known as High School) to her. She blew through that one in a day.  

 Some addictions are good to pass down to future generations.

We made it safely back to the mainland.

To snow.

Sad. Really sad. Though it's supposed to be nearly 70 degrees one day this weekend. Which is actually a bit better than what we experienced on Kaua'i. They had rain of nearly biblical proportions. It's a good thing we went for a family event and not sightseeing. Besides the airport and the church (and my daughter's house) I only made it to Walmart.

But it was awesome seeing my daughter and her family again. I miss them so much.

Got back yesterday and had my last wisdom tooth removed. I'd been putting this off for 30 years because the other bottom wisdom tooth was a bear afterward. Well, this one was a bear getting out. The dentist had to take it in pieces.

And the tooth area isn't the only place that can take a hit during an extraction. Like my lip here. I haven't had the guts to look at the tooth extraction site.

One positive note though. The oral surgeon (as he's cutting the tooth from my jaw bones) assured me I didn't have osteoporosis.

Anybody doing anything fun this weekend?

Vacation . . . Again. Oh, and Self-Editing

Yep, I'm headed to paradise again.

I know. Rough life.

Robin Weeks posted an LTUE class update about self-editing. (I know! I've been a serious slacker/loser in this area myself, but repentance is coming. Someday). But it's an awesome recap of a class taught by the amazing Tristi Pinkston (author and editor).  It's definitely worth your time to check it out. 

When I find posts like this, I copy them and post the information in a document (with a link back to the original post), so I won't lose it. How do you keep track of useful information you find online?

Coming Home and Awards . . . and Stress

I'm en route back to the mainland after a delightful trip. We had some beautiful days and some horribly rainy ones--I mean flash flood heavy rains on Tuesday. We watched as the lawns outside and across the street became little rivers. Reminded me of the monsoons when I lived in the Philippines as a girl--one year we had 29 inches of rain--in September alone.

But that's okay. We played a variety of board and video games. And the weather the day before (Monday)--when we went to a local luau--was very pleasant. The Smith Family Luau was so much fun. Beautiful grounds, great food, and a fun show. Just a few sprinkles--the lull before the storm.

This is us with the family of one of my son-in-law's coworkers.

Having received some awards lately, I figured it was time to acknowledge the wonderful givers.

I've received the Great Commenter Award twice, once each from Nancy Thompson, Leigh Covington, and J.A. Bennett.

 Earlier this week Kelley over at Between the Bookends gave me the two awards below, and Sara at Live to Write...Edit When Necessary gave me the Versatile Blogger. J.A. Bennett gave me the Versatile Blogger, too.

I'm supposed to provide trivia about myself, but I've bored everyone stupid with tidbits about myself in previous posts so I'll pass this time.

I wish I had the time to track down a list of some bodacious bloggers out there who deserve these. However, things are crazy right now, so I'm merely going to acknowledge the awesome ladies who were kind enough to think of me. I invite you to visit their blogs and encourage you to follow them if you aren't already.

Seriously, speaking of crazy. How the heck did I end up on the boards of three different writing associations? I have eight years before I can retire, so I work full-time (plus). 

Don't misunderstand. These really are wonderful networking opportunities, and I love the people I'm working with. But when am I going to have time to write?


Do you find yourself getting in deeper than you probably should, making commitments you worry you won't be able to fulfill? I hate doing things halfway.

At what point do you have to step back from some things?

Kaua'i

One of my granddaughters tiptoeing on Shipwreck Beach.

Hubby, daughter, son-in-Law, and two granddaughters.

View of the beach.

Three generations build a sandcastle at Shipwreck Beach.

Spouting Horn

Mt. Kipu on Wednesday. It was stormy most of the day.

Here's another view of Mt. Kipu on Thursday when the weather was much nicer.

At the Fishing Pond with Mt. Kipu in the distance.

A friend recommended that we try Puka Dogs, so we did. Yum!

 

 

 

 

Vacation

Today, I'm heading to the lovely island of Kaua'i to visit my daughter and her family. I'll be popping in here once in a while with pictures and some other bloggerly business (like book reviews and blog award acknowledgements).

These are a few pictures from my trip in June of 2010 and February 2011.

Napali Coast 2010

My grandson said he still loves the Utah mountains, but he likes these better. Personally, I think it's the beach.

Don't you love the laid back atmosphere? This is from one of the most popular Shave Ice shacks. And it really isn't open all the time. If you drive by and it's open, you'd best grab some.

A New Year . . . and Resolutions

I'm going to the iWriteNetwork Workshop on January 21st. 

Anybody else coming?

It's that time of year to first look back and then ahead.

Definitions
resolution - A firm decision to do or not to do something 
goal - The result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.

I know a lot of people hate the idea of New Years resolutions. I don't have a problem with them. I'm a goal-setting person and a list checker offer. I love the list I made for myself for the last part of December and the feeling of focus and accomplishment I felt as I've been marking things off.

I'm also realistic. No way will I always be able to achieve the goals I set. But if I don't strive for something--and keep a reminder of it in front of me--I'm guaranteed to do nothing.

And the "keep it in front of you" is important. One year on New Year's Day, I wrote a list of goals for myself for the year in my journal. One included writing in my journal every day.

Um . . . the following year on New Year's Day I opened that journal again for the first first time in a year and saw those goals again.

Epic fail!

Whether I call them resolutions or goals, these are mine for 2012:

• Query A Change of Plans
• Make changes suggested by editor
• Go to Kaua'i for 10 days in January -- I know, this is a tough one, but I gotta visit the grandkids! *sigh* It's such a terrible sacrifice. NOT!
• Finalize the cover  for A Change of Plans in case I self-publish
• In February attend Life, the Universe, and Everything (LTUE)
• In March go back to Kaua'i for grandson's baptism
• In May attend Storymaker
• Finish my 2011 NaNo project in time to give the published book to my granddaughter for her  birthday in July (she's the main character).
• Work through issues with my SciFi project, including doing a simple outline for turning it into a trilogy
• Attend League of Utah Writers Roundup
• Get a basic outline for my 2012 NaNo project (sequel to A Change of Plans)
• Attend the Authors Incognito retreat for NaNo
• Be glad it's not an election year . . . for me.

What about you? Are you a resolution / goal person? Do you have some things you'd like to accomplish in 2012?