Celebration orb

The surprise party in honor of our eldest daughter’s 30th birthday included weeks of scheming and stress.  So it was great to finally celebrate and the surprise this weekend was a triple success. We staged it in her new home, which is a dream come true.

Yes, the doom news of the foreclosure crisis is sad.  The stories not told are those families that may never own a home if the property values had not imploded. It’s a weird dichotomy but because the real estate market crashed, a dream out of reach has been achieved.  And it will be treasured.

So here’s a cool picture from the surprise birthday party this weekend. Many collaborated to create a single gift. A dream come true for an avid snowboarder who finally has her own board.

Here’s a close up of that spherical light distortion to the left.

This is what we consider as an orb caught on camera. The difference between an orb and a light distortion is the definition of what is revealed as we zoom in.  When the details revealed become more defined, it’s an orb not a reflection. This is not the brightest or biggest orb that’s shown up in pictures taken at family parties.

There’s many theories about what orbs may be, my preference is they are an energy of ancestral or angelic flavor that are drawn to celebrations. Since our celebrations include lots of laughter we probably attract happy orbs. Our girls believe these orbs are their grandparents.

My parents loved attending and hosting family parties and heaven wouldn’t be heaven if they couldn’t still do that. So we feel confident our beloved ancestors do join our fun parties.  We don’t think of it at the time but when an orb shows up in a picture taken, it makes the party memories even more fun knowing additional guests joined the celebration.

new couch update

There’s little doubt it’s a bold and big couch.  It’s totally wrong for the room, not good feng shui. I adore sitting on it in the morning, afternoon, evening. It shouts FUN.

We were both sprawled across the couch watching American Idol when the first uh-oh was revealed. Ed shifted and said, “Can you get your feet away from my face?”

in with the new

I sat on the carpet in my empty living room yesterday with my Feng Shui diagrams and reference book.  As I looked around I knew there would be some decorative challenges today because our new couch is red.

The living room, with soft cushions and cozy fabrics, is considered a yin room but red is yang.  A large seascape on the wall had to be removed because it is strong water energy while the red couch beneath it is fire energy. Water on top of fire creates steam and this is not the energy I want in my living room.

The beauty of Feng Shui is that it promotes placement of everything in a room, from furniture to a plant, according to the five elements and the four directions as mapped on the Bagua. There’s a theme for each of the eight areas and associated colors. Bringing such a strong color into a our living room meant it would throw off the whole balance of our decor.

My additional challenge is the shape of the room, the doors and windows.   Our home was “self built” in stages during the 1960′s and that would be a really long story including many “why did he do that?” mysteries about construction choices. The county building permits were incomplete.

So, last night I walked through all the rooms of my home not only thinking of the challenge of this stunning red couch, but also to assess everything in every room. This is the beauty of Feng Shui, it suggests re-placement where moving an object three inches can be as important as taking it to another room. (Or out the door!)

With most puzzles, I like to work on them, study them, then sleep on it.  This morning the sun was bright and I began moving pictures, shifting plant stands and trying out different things. Small area rugs, books, shelves, figurines, and candles, changed rooms. (This included the requirement to dust stuff.)

Yeah, it’s big and bold.  How fun is that?  (That’s an 8×11 rug for a sense of size.) The large seascape was replaced with the 30th Anniversary gift from our girls.

Here’s the other side of this newly defined space.

The other half of the room has an inauspicious flow according to Feng Shui design recommendations.

That black rocker with the white cushion was the one bought for my grandma to use when I was a baby and she moved into our home to help with my care. Those three small square pictures on the wall were painted by my mom when my girls were young.  And that’s what really matters to me in my living room.  However, it really is a majestic and comfy couch.  

writer advisors

Saturday’s workshop was an author panel and of the five authors, each had a totally different story to tell about their journey so far. Fortunately through the magic of blogs, I can share some of it.

Tawna posted the picture of this author panel and included the links to all authors so check out their websites and books because their style and flavor are very different. It really is an amazing cross section of the variety of stories and styles that are all considered romance novels.

Delilah’s seven points bring the author dream into perspective with an hourly rate of $1.25, the additional time of extensive self promotion, and the wonders of hate mail.

Jessa followed up her insights during the workshop with a blog about what are considered false starts in this career.  Many authors have stories about starting with the wrong agent, Tawna even started with the wrong genre and the line folded the month before her first book hit the stands.

Kristana was told her book would never sell, many times.  WWII love stories through letters?  When vampires and Harry Potter are the hot topic in the theaters?

Which brings me to Cathryn Cade.  She’s the absolute clique romance novelist.  A grade school librarian who writes steamy paranormal romance novels. Her journey was not fraught with drama and in many ways shows why writers are choosing the epub world.  She wrote, submitted, published within months, loves her publishing team, interacts with her readers, wrote another book, and gets monthly royalty statements – all within ONE YEAR!  That’s significant!

But I’m not going to list all the pros and cons of various publishing venues.  Something Delilah said on Saturday has been repeating in my head:

… the routine and time spent to become a writer is also the schedule you carry forth when you are published.

What’s scary about this for me is my writer journey has been riddled with huge disruptions. I am also the type to roll out of bed in the morning with delightful anticipation for what surprises and adventures will come my way during the day.

So now I am making my New Years resolution for 2011 and it is to create a morning ritual for my writer-life because I can attest Polly’s advice for that big glass of water as the first action in the morning is very beneficial.

critique group

There are a variety resources an author needs to create marketable fiction that brings great stories to readers. One of those I consider the foundation for a writer is a good critique group.  Or at least an awesome critique partner.

What a critique group is – is one to three people who are devoted to the craftsmanship of storytelling, through the venue of words on the page, and invest time and effort into your personal success with your story as well as appreciating your insight and dedication to their success and story. It is the give-and-take balance, in a safe space, that brings value to both the author and the story that forms a strong bond.

In my experience, through the years of writing story, I’ve come to learn the value of a good critique group.  I’ve also been without this support network for years and finally am within that safe space again.  I intend to revel in it.

The essence of a critique group is found in many relationship/partnership situations on all levels of living life.  This is the friends and family members that know us so well our latest experience can be explained in a few words and they understand the whole story. It’s also in the team players we trust where we work who are invested in the project we all want to succeed.

The essence of a critique group doesn’t wallow in what was, or is.  It’s all about making it better, moving forward, seeing the present for what it is and offering potentials for what can be.

The value of a critique group is entirely our choice.  We can take what they suggest or not.  We also offer our suggestions freely to be used or discarded at the discretion of the author. No one opinion is greater than the other but all opinions have merit. It is the utopia experience when we find a select few who “get” us and we are willing to “get” them.

That’s how I feel about the critique group I now meet with monthly. The potential for my own improvement as a writer is evident.  The potentials of my value of what I bring to the group is also strong.  It’s not dramatic and it will not make the news of the day. Oh well.  Not my intent for today…

A good critique group is based on trust – which is a two-way street – and not exclusive to writing.  But the concept is good for all the agendas we put on our schedules.

the dining table

In Feng Shui design, the dining room is more than a social area but also considered the center of wealth in the home.  Mirrors are good to double the abundance of a table laden with healthy and flavorful foods to be savored and shared with friends and family.  The dining area should be bright and open regardless of the trends for candles and romantic ambiance.

My dining area meets all these criteria except the table and chairs no longer match the decor of the floors, rugs, and chandelier, upgraded three years ago. It’s an awesome double pedestal oval oak table that self-stores two additional leaves and easily extends to seat twelve, but there’s seldom reason now to extend it to its full use in our home.

This home I’ve lived in for 13 years has an eclectic style and each room had a multi-use flavor.  As we’ve distributed our stuff out of our home to daughters, rooms are becoming more single purpose.  Like our dining area is now just for eating and not the place for mail, projects, and paying bills.  This home was purchased with transitional intent and has carried that energy of repair and remodel on the lives of all of our family. (This transitional aspect is still active.)

It was fun to wander around a furniture store knowing that my awesome table and chairs are desired by a daughter as what she wants in her home, even with the chewed on table leg from the puppy 12 years ago.  I don’t have to be practical regarding this table and chairs I chose, then.

Everything but the dining aspect has been moved from our dining area and into my new office.  The business of a home, the books of a writer’s life.  I no longer perch my laptop on the dining table to write.  Even the old TV stand from the living room has a new purpose as a printer stand in my office, which used to be a bedroom.

Now I walk into my dining area and see the memories of when that table was fully extended and laden and surrounded.  There are pictures on the wall of three generations of both our families.  They are all smiling and that wealth and abundance doesn’t need a mirror.

The pictures depict weddings, anniversaries, new babies, children, graduations, the constant change and transition of life. So it is time for a new table.  One that will have a single function as a nice place to eat.

The abundance of living evident on my beloved dining table – with chewed legs and a variety of other mars, cuts, pokes, and character, can move on to be honored in another home, and treasured for the memories.

And since that table I chose in years past will still be in the family, I can visit it and then come home to my new decor.  Feng Shui design promotes creating a new energetic flow as situations change. Memories are important but sometimes life needs to be about creating a new flow of Chi.  A new wealth in the center of a home.

World Peace?

I’m fascinated by the news from Egypt. I’ve heard/read prophecies of peace in the middle east occurring in my lifetime. Here’s one delightful prediction given at the United Nations:

At this moment, as we speak in this year of 2009, in this month of November, I speak of the potentials on the planet. [This is Kryon giving a "date-stamp" on this channelling for future readers.] There are several old-energy dictatorships that occupy the energy of those in the big rooms [the Grand Assembly] and they’ll go away by themselves. [These are dictators who have a legal seat in the Grand Assembly, as leaders of specific countries and members of the UN.] You’ve seen it before, and they will topple themselves, simply because they will be totally out of touch with the reality of what their people want. Their old energy will catch up with them, and their own people will remove them. You have seen this before in several countries in the last 20 years.

Now in today’s news:

From the oil-rich Gulf states in the east to Morocco in the west, regimes both pro- and anti-U.S. could not help but worry they could see a similar upheaval. Several of the region’s authoritarian rulers have made pre-emptive gestures of democratic reform to avert their own protest movements.

The lesson many took: If it could happen in only three weeks in Egypt, where Mubarak’s lock on power had appeared unshakable, it could happen anywhere. Only a month earlier, Tunisia’s president was forced to step down in the face of protests.

It is very appropriate today’s events took place on 2/11/2011, 0r if you prefer 11.02.2011, no matter how you arrange the numbers the message is  about illumination on duality and enlightenment on partnerships.

Whatever happens on a global scale in the weeks/months ahead will be fascinating to observe. The whole story may take generations to understand as it has been written through generations past.

Will history show a revolution was organized, fought, and won, by tweets?

deep POV

A variety of important events have claimed my attention this past year but doing our taxes and reporting no income as a writer was annoying. 2010 was the year I refined many of my business objectives as a writer and enhanced my network and support teams. It’s also the year I accepted that I write contemporary romance novels and memoir.

It was a big step for my psyche to acknowledge that I write memoir.  I know so little about the genre and even less about the audience that reads memoir.  Until a few months ago I was still very clear that I write sassy domestic dramas and yeah, I wrote this memoir. But now I’m into the professional polish stages on my memoir with an editor, and rewriting a novel, so I can see how these two ways of presenting story are both true to my author theme.

The author theme is that elusive know-thyself journey. For me, this has not changed in all the stories I’ve written. I’m all about happy families and there’s no weapons, drugs, demons, or blood, on the pages. None of my women kick-ass and none of the men are ashhats. Which produced numerous enjoyable to write and read novels but lacked enough conflict and drama to be publishable.

I learned about deep POV (point-of-view) in fiction while I was writing memoir. I did see the irony that memoir is all about deep POV. (There’s also the irony that I was more devoted to learning how to craft a novel while I was writing memoir.)  As I’ve been rewriting my novel with deep POV for greater conflict and drama, these past months, I’ve also had an inside view of an awesome story that is tantalizing me to write another memoir.

Which has brought me to the acceptance that I write both memoir and romance. I’m still not sure about meeting the conflict and drama expectations for commercial fiction but I can make up for it in emotional wounds, personal baggage, and significant traumas. I will just use what I know for what the characters need to learn.

Like last month – my youngest called to state she was thrilled with her new doctor.  After the initial consultation this doctor stated the anti-anxiety meds would no longer be needed after some therapy with a PTSD specialist.  I personally was overloaded with information on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, for the caretaker, during 2003-4.  In 2005-6 when our youngest was slammed with trauma after trauma, after trauma, and more, I would have noticed the signs if I wasn’t dealing with the same events. I feel no guilt and am content she’s recognized and is working toward her own healing.

Earlier this year, while I brainstormed the rewrite of my novel, I labeled the romantic hero’s wound as PTSD.  Today I finally took the time to re-research this condition and also read about the Scorpio male.  Only then was I able to write the significant two paragraphs that end Chapter Three.

Chapter four also has to be ready for my critique partners by Tuesday. And with those two paragraphs completed, the next chapter will be a breeze… 

Super Sunday

The family had a variety of plans to watch the Superbowl and I wished them all good luck that their team would win, then slipped off to the mall. It was my first shift at Macy’s since the “seasonal help” season ended.

While I trained and began with the seasonal help, I was hired into the Flex system and this meant I didn’t have a manager or specific slot. Instead I picked up what shifts I wanted, anywhere in the store. It was great fun!

The termination rumors swirled in mid January and the human resources manager assured me that all seasonal help would have two weeks off until the new budgets were approved.  Managers would then call those who were requested to return with a start date of Jan. 30th.  Those who got laid off were told to reapply in a few weeks, just in case.

Well, I never got a termination letter but thought it was because I just slipped through the cracks.  I also never got a call.  My ID and password was still active in the online system so I decided to pick up a shift and see what happened.  I also hoped my employee discount was still active for those sets of towels. 

That last week of the holiday retail season I felt bad for a lot of the people who had been great teammates in the chaos.  As the flurry ended, many avoided looking each other in the eye.  Managers who were thrilled to see me in their departments for weeks scurried away from my smile.

It was a delight to realize I wasn’t a seasonal hire, I’m a flex employee, which means I can still pick up shifts whenever they are available and if I want to work them.  I found this out when I reapplied and was denied as being an active employee. So I walked in the employee entrance on Sunday.

Everywhere I walked in the store, I was greeted with big smiles and the assurance my co-workers were thrilled to see me and glad to know I had made it through the massive lay-off.  So even though I was in the department I like the least, I had a blast going to work instead of to a Superbowl party.

 

Trash Cans

The garbage collection services arrived at my daughter’s new home to drop off the trash cans and recycling bins.  The delivery man was surprised and amused as this dynamic woman skipped out to his truck and was so excited to receive 4 separate bins for trash, yard debris, cardboard and plastics, and glass.

Who gets excited over the storage for the debris of our lives?

As we listened to her relate this story Ed and I smiled, then we explained why she should keep these bins outside and not in her garage.  She was surprised because of her concern that if she left her trash bins outside people would come by and dump their trash in her bins.  We gently pointed out that – she no longer lives there…

It was an euphoric moment for all of us to know that those days of her life are now past. And it was appropriate for her to be thrilled to have her own trash and recycling bins.  She’s no longer making-the-best-of-it for herself and her sons, where she was.

I told her she deserves it all because she truly appreciates what it means.  She never gave up on the dream, and worked her way through nightmares for years.

As her mom, I’m so proud.  For years I watched and wondered.  I was ready to do whatever needed to be done.  I have no problem being the meanest-mom-on-the-lake as she once labeled me.

Instead I’m delivering new bath towel sets, to her new home.  It’s not as dramatic as new trash bins but it will feel good every time she steps out of the shower.

February potentials

February is the month I like to contemplate the potentials of the coming year.  It’s the time to make resolutions and dabble with personal goals to test how I will feel when they are accomplished.

There’s a lot of How-To advice to live your dreams and one is that the more specific you make your goals, the greater potential you have to achieve them.  These goals have to be broken down into manageable tasks within a reasonable time frame.  These goals should also be something within our control to achieve and not dependent on the choices of others.

In commercial fiction characters have very specific goals.  Then the author makes sure every one of those goals are lost or destroyed to see how the character changes and grows.  The goal achieved at the end of the novel truly is what the character wanted, they just had to get all the specifics out of the way.

One of my favorite plot devises is the ticking clock where there is a tight deadline.  I love to raise the tension for the characters as they strive to beat the clock and avoid a crisis.  Then sometimes, because I can (as the author), I will avert the crisis some other way and deflate that adrenaline rush.  The authors job is to take the character from identity to essence so the real dream is achieved instead of the anticipated goal.

When my daughter realized her dream of owning her own home was within reach, during the house hunting exercise she pulled out all her specifics about the home she wanted including the amount of yard work, and the schools her boys would attend. Then she decided when she would make her choice of available options.

I told her to release all her specifics and imagine she met her time frame and to think about how she felt that day. I told her to feel every sensation about her home, the location, and schools. It’s not easy to release a dream that has been carefully built and refined for years and focus on the essence of the dream as the life to live. But within days after our conversation the actual events brought her into something so much better than she dared to dream, and it is now reality.

Which makes a great story but doesn’t really help the rest of us create manageable goals for ourselves. Fortunately, Polly has a great post today with clear instructions on how to begin with morning rituals. I plan to spend the month of February getting back into those morning rituals that work best for me and plan to add that early hydration routine.

I’ll also add Tawna’s advice on taming the beastly to-do list.  I have mastered most of them but not all, or as well as I could.

While my daughter’s home-purchase experience has been an amazing story of the Law of Attraction on steroids, Mike posted a visualization story that took 14 years.  So don’t be afraid of or expect too much from February as the month to set goals and align your potentials for the rest of the year.  February is always the shortest month, and it returns every year.