Looking at fall

I can't believe we are nearly in the middle of August.  This summer has gone by so fast.  And I have not written nearly as much as I planned to of my Memoir.  Once the kids go back to school I will have to become more disiplined ( definitely spelt that wrong)  .  I need to schedule a couple of hours into every day devoted to writing.  I have to get back to exercising and try to make more time for my friends.

I have always felt like fall, going back to school, is the beginning of a new year.  Could be because that is when we Jews celebrate our New Year.  I do "fall cleaning" and set goals.  I have learned not to set too many because there is no way I'm going to get to them all.  Maybe writing them here for all to see will make me become more motivated.

My life with teenagers and other stuff

So I have the opportunity to write a blog about raising teenagers for a "Mommy site".  My husband told me to ask if they minded before I went ahead (something that didn't even cross my mind).  My daughter, surprisingly, thanked me for asking her first and asked to read it before I submit it.  My son reminded me that he was no longer a teenager.  He likes to remind me that he is an adult. Or when he's home he reminds me that "I don't live here anymore."  That really grates on my nerves.  Maybe because it really makes me sad and reminds me just how fast time has gone.  Anyway, I told him that I will email him my blog before I submit it anyway.

Otherwise, the work on my book is going at a snails pace.  Some days I'll really be on a roll and able to bang out a chapter or two and then nothing for a week.  Maybe there's too many distractions at home.  I'm going to try working at the cottage over the long weekend we have coming up here in Canada.  Of course, I won't be there alone so we'll see how that goes.  What I should really do is go up there by myself but I have this nonsensical fear of long driving trips when I'm the one doing the driving.  I have gotten lost so many times, even just here in the city.  My kids bought me a GPS last Mother's Day. Maybe I should actually hook it up to my car!

So, back to the book. Self-publishing is probably the route I will have to go but I have no idea how to go about marketing it.  It was suggested that I simply start sending out query letters to agents and go from there.  Any comments about this would be greatly appreciated!

36 degrees

What a hot weekend! I think I can safely say that summer is here.  I haven't been able to write  single thing in two weeks (at least).  Partially due to the fact that I was having a lot of trouble breathing.  Normally I would have gone to the emergency room at the hospital where my transplant was performed.  But, it being the first weekend in July, I knew that here in Canada, July 1st is when all the residents graduate and July 2nd (for the most part) is when all the staff doctors go on vacation.  I wish I didn't know so much about our Health Care System.  Anyway, I made a proper appointment which involves bloodwork, a chest x-ray and a breathing test. After all this information is gathered the doctors sit down and review it and decide on a course of action.  I knew my breathing test was compromised.  For a woman of my size a normal test shows 2.0.  My tests have been 1.37 for the last several years.  Lousy, but consistently lousy.  Last week they were 0.8.  The docs determined that I have a respiratory infection and put me on a puffer and an anti-biotic.  That was Wednesday.  By Saturday I was walking around the Art Museum with my husband and later that same day, through the "cool" downtown neighbourhood my son is living in this summer as we went in search of food.  I hope that by the end of the week I will be exercising and writing more of my book!

A Better Week

Last weekend my husband and I escaped to the family cottage which no one else was using at the time.  The weather was gorgeous, a true summer day.  We lounged around and watched some movie on Netflicks at night.  Sunday came all too soon and we came home, back to our routine.  My routine changes daily so I guess I don't really have one.  Since both my kids drive I don't have to get up, get dressed and I drive them to school or work or really anywhere.  Although I have to admit I gave up getting dressed to take them to school long ago.  I slept in sweatpants and a sweatshirt so for me it was just a matter of a face and hand wash and brushing my teeth.  I did this all so I could grab an extra twenty minutes of sleep.

So, back to my lack of routine.  It basically depends on how I am feeling that day or if I have a headache.  I talk a lot about my aches and pains and pills and doctors' appointments here.  I feel like I am sounding like a little old lady.  I'm going to try to stop doing that.  Please remind me in your comments if I relapse.  I found a guy who does something called Sacrotranscranial massage.  It's like acupuncture but using his hands instead of needles.  I think it may be working. Who knows?  Trying to stay motivated to work on my memoir is my ultimate goal.  I did finish another chapter this week too, so that's something.  Cheers!

Peace and Quiet

Last Thursday my husband and daughter went to NYC for a few days. My son is living downtown for the summer, close to his job so it was just me and our dog.  I slept in and stayed up late. Ate dinner at 9 p.m. and watched movies.  I didn't do any work on my book, "Breathe" which was what I had planned to do but I couldn't resist the peace and quiet that I had to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.  Of course, by Saturday night I was ready for them to come home but I have to admit, it was lovely.  Do any of you ever get and enjoy this luxury? And if so, how do you spend that time? I would love to hear from you!

Family

Last Sunday was a beautiful day as our family celebrated my in-laws' 60th wedding anniversary.  A party with all their children, grandchildren and great-grandchild as well as many of their friends.  Had a chef preparing fresh crepes, a beautiful buffet brunch and a three tiered cake, each tier circled with old pictures of them and their growing family (yes, you could eat the pictures!).  We all stood outside in the sunshine for pictures as well.  We are a family of 21 and get together every Friday for the Sabbath meal at my in-law's house.  Not everyone is always there but we always have a substantial crowd.  My MIL does all the cooking herself.  At 79 years of age, it is what keeps her going, she says.  She also happens to be a fantastic cook.  You know, the kind of person who likes to read recipe books instead of novels.  She says cooking is her hobby.  (So the opposite of me!).  When she isn't doing that, she takes my father-in-law to all of his dr's. appointments and me to mine.  I really have no idea what I would do without this woman in my life.  She is my mom and also my friend.  She has taught me how to raise my kids so that they will be close as well as how to be a mother-in-law myself someday.  Happy Anniversary to two of the best people I know.

Little blue pills

These headaches are consuming me.  The prescription I have for oxycontin only works some of the time.  Usually I can get about three or four hours out of it.  In that time I try to work on my book, tidy up the house, spend time with my daughter who is home for the summer, get some errands done.  I have given up on meeting friends for lunch because I can't commit.  My husband loves to entertain but we haven't had people over in months, except for family, and his weekly Thursday night scotch drinking doesn't count, apparently.  I always go and say hello to his friends but I basically stay in our bedroom, writing or watching TV.  I am aware that I keep writing about the pain I am in but a blog is a place for one to say what they're feeling or thinking about.

Every Sunday night I make a list of everything I need to do during the week and the day I'm supposed to do it.  I have to admit I don't always make it to the end of the list.  Does any one finish their "to do" lists?  I doubt it.  If I think that way it makes it easier for me to realize I may not get to the end of the list. I'd love to hear your comments on this.