Weekly Recap: Okay, Did It

Ever have that epiphany moment when things come together and you know it's time to do something? When you are buzzing along in life, smelling the flowers in happy bliss, and suddenly your eyes pop open and you know it's now or never?

I've had moments like that. I still remember a job I wanted so badly I could taste it. It was within the company I worked for at the time (General Telephone), but the laws of advancement were in place and not in my favor. I was in a position that did not normally advance that high. My boss had already told me she would not support my efforts, since the timing was off and it was during our busiest season.

But I knew the other job was perfect. It was in the town where I lived and would be easier on my family. I said a prayer and decided to go over my supervisor's head. It was a scary can-do moment, but I was bursting with energy and determination. I introduced myself to the supervisor in the office where I wanted to work and explained my situation. I was practically hired on the spot, and was later told that my energy-level had convinced her I was perfect for the job, and......more positions followed.

So did I learn something from this? Yes, indeed....

 FEAR OF STEPPING OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE CAN KEEP US FROM SUCCESS, YET IT IS FEAR ITSELF THAT CAN BE THE GREATEST MOTIVATOR OF ALL!!

Others have written about this, too.

Winston Churchill wrote:
"Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all the others."

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote:
"Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others."

(And my favorite....)

Victor Hugo: "Wings"
"Be like the bird that, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her and yet sings, knowing that she hath wings."

I wish I could say that I still had the same thirty-something energy. The laws of nature, i.e. getting older, have put a damper on some at least, but I did have a moment of courage this week. I entered my novel in a contest for the first time, Pitch Madness. I have no idea how I'll place, but there was a moment of
"I can't do this. People will judge my novel. Some may think I can't even write." Ee-eh, I hate those feelings, don't you? Or am I the only one who ever feels this way?

But it was time, and my 'self-assigned' publicist husband was already kicking my butt. "You gotta do this. Either put the book to rest, write another, or quit." 

Me: Hmm.....typical male logic. "Okay, okay, quit getting so emotional," I told myself. I was also remembering something my son had said.

Son: "Think of this as a product, Mom. Take yourself out of the ratio." Okay .....so I'm selling a car then? Hmm......maybe not, but it does give a whole different feeling. 

So, today I wrote the email, pasted in my 35-word pitch and first 250 words, and hit the 'send' button!! No explosions, no hurrahs from the email Olympians of the Internet, nothing extraordinary to report at all. But boy, did that ever feel good.

Weekly Recap: Touching the Stars

For me it is a pretty full plate this January. I no longer work outside the home, so some of you may just roll your eyes with envy. Juggling family, writing, and other passions with an outside job is demanding, no question. Done that, been there before! I do have a part-time editing job, but it so part-time it hardly counts. 

Started my Master Gardener class yesterday and excited I can finally do this, as there was never enough time before. Homework, lectures, and online exams will keep me busy through mid-April and I am meeting a great group of like-minded gardeners. Still determined to submit my novel by the end of this month. Worked on it almost 17 hours last week toward that end. Later this month, I will be attending a regional SCBWI workshop (Spokane, WA) called "Building a Following: How to Grow Your Author Platform Before and After Publication." Working on one book review, but (darn) missed my 'read one book a week' goal last week, so need to think about that. All in all, it's lining up to be a month of learning. Hope your week is going well. Is it?

Below is a quote from a book called The Treasure Chest, a high school graduation gift to me from my parents many years ago. I cannot tell you how often I have read and enjoyed this collection of quotes and poetry over the years. I will read it my entire life. Today's quote about 'touching the stars' seemed so applicable to the goals I am seeking and the frustration I sometimes feel. I love how it ends. I could not help but think of blogger friends like you and others in my life :)

"You Can Touch Stars"

Stars have too long been symbols of the
unattainable. They should not be so. For
although our physical hands cannot reach
them, we can touch them in other ways

Let stars stand for those things which are
ideal and radiant in life; if we seek sincerely
and strive hard enough, it is not impossible
to reach them, even though the goals seem
distant at the onset.

And how often do we touch stars when we
find them close by in the shining lives of
great souls, in the sparkling universe of
humanity around us!

(Esther Baldwin York)

  

Weekly Recap: A Maui Reflection

View from our Papakea condo-west Maui

We are back from Maui, Hawaii (as well as from an extended smaller trip to see family in western Washington). Upon reflection, I feel as if I have been adrift at sea for the past two weeks and slowly swimming back against the surf.

Our patio on left; quiet romantic breakfasts
every morning

After a week back home of regrouping and letting life take hold again, my feet are finally planted on the shore. This was our first time to Hawaii. For years I have heard others describe their
adventures and experiences in Hawaii, with eyes glistening and hearts aglow. A family of four I know has made this trek yearly for as long as I can remember. They claim to not worry about the expense and simply spend the rest of the year paying off their credit card debt. Another friend and his wife travel to Maui yearly to the same condo, where they hole up with visiting family and loads of books. More recently, two dear friends island hopped and had a marvelous time. Frankly, we just never could afford it before, and we were hardly the big spenders this time around either.

Vince at seawall

Maui was lovely of course, but I must confess there is no comparison to our experience living in Southeast Asia in the 1990s, where we basked in the rich diverse cultures of Malaysia, Thailand
and Indonesia. Beaches and sunsets were breathtaking and we had the snorkeling experience of a lifetime on Tioman Island, complete with komodo dragons fighting on the beach. But what Hawaii has that no other Pacific tropical region has is the safety of U.S. borders. As one wanting to visit every country in the world, I find this comforting in our increasingly unsafe world. No worries, no passports to update and stress over, no food issues, no language barriers, no money quandaries.......and no civil wars! 

We rented a condo on Maui’s west coast for five days, where we had an unobstructed view of the ocean and the island of Molokai. I had forgotten how powerful the surf can be.....AND NOISY. Vince woke up in the middle of the night to the surf shaking our room and the seawall just twenty feet away, and began surfing the net on his phone for a tsunami warning. It turns out there had just been a major earthquake in the Philippines, so he was a bit stirred up. Ha-ha. False alarm....no worries in the end. All in all, it was a gorgeous setting for early morning breakfasts on the patio, with the sun barely surfacing and few people about. Given the 3-hour time difference, we woke early on most days.

The happy couple

Bryce, Brenda, Jennifer and Richard.
The wedding groomsmen and
bridesmaids (bride's daughters)

The rest of our time was tourist-packed, exploring the sights, the old town of Lahaina in particular, and
anticipating the wedding on the second day, our main reason for coming. Vince’s brother and his girlfriend were married on a beach north of us. The wedding went well without a hitch and they seem to be off to a happy start. We had to laugh though when we first arrived. Apparently the beach is a popular wedding location. The parking lot was full when we  arrived and there were brides and grooms and bridal parties walking about, all waiting their turn. But from the pictures you would never guess anyone else was around!

Vince at Haleakala crater

More than the beaches, for us the highlight was visiting Maui’s dormant volcano, Haleakala. Often socked in with fog and clouds at 10,023 feet, we decided to google the mountain's weather beforehand and saw that only one day had possibilities. We lucked out. The top was clear and sunny that day. The views overlooking the vast crater and cinder cones were absolutely surreal. We are so glad we went.

"I'm sitting on top of the world"

Hawaii's state bird, the Nene. Oh, I so much wanted
to see one, but never did. I have this bird in my book!

We had passed on the snorkeling, submarine rides, zip lines, and sailboat rides, concentrating more on local history and scenery. (I think we are more travelers than tourists).

"Drums of the Pacific Luau"

However, we did go to a traditional luau (a must :) and Maui’s Ocean Center, a large walk-through aquarium in Maalaea. Also in Maalaea was the only quilt store in all of Maui, where I found a locally made quilt with a turtle design. We gave this to Doug and Karen as a wedding gift. Wish I had taken a photo. They loved it! 

Maui Ocean Center

Surfer on northern coast, along the road to Hana. Surf looked about 4 feet high. One surfer lost his board and had to be rescued by another surfer. I'm glad they watch out for each other! 

Baldwin house. Missionary home in 'old' Lahaina. Lots of history in Lahaina. (We visited this town twice). Home had two feet thick walls, as was customary in England. Turns out it was perfect insulation in the tropical heat.

A good trip, although it is always nice to be home again. If only it did not take so long to reacclimate. I have so much to do. I woke up to snow on the rooftops this morning and an overwhelming drive to finish my last two chapters...or else. Grrr....BIG GRRR....time to get tough (on me)! I have a ton of books to read and review, too. But aren’t Mondays great? They inspire fresh ideas and provide untold energy. Wow....I have the whole week ahead of me. I am eager to jump in and see what I can do. How about you?      

Copyright 2013 © Sharon Himsl

Sharon M. Himsl

Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011. 
Published with Evernight Teen: 
~~The Shells of Mersing

Weekly Recap: Dreams and Writing

It is interesting how the mind works. I have taken a sabbatical from my novel for over three weeks now. No particular reason why, other than everything else going on in my life  has been more interesting. On the positive side, I have tackled some issues that needed serious attention. Household accounts are now more up to date, a tree and several shrubs have been planted, and my house is a lot cleaner (I have a new iRobot Roomba :-).

I am also back on Weight Watchers, which really isn't a diet in my book, but a lifestyle change that enforces eating a healthier, lean diet. I have never joined this organization for real, but found their books and figured out the system. It really works, although it too required some serious attention in the beginning. I have since pulled out the recipe books, charts, and points book. As a result, my husband and I have been slowly shedding pounds, about two pounds weeks.

However, I am still two and a half chapters away from finishing, a rewrite that incorporated new plot details and a change to two secondary characters, one that I had actually eliminated in one draft. My dreams reflect this. I have been dreaming a lot lately, something that happens a lot when you are dieting I guess. At any rate, I had a dream last night that made me realize my novel is still very much a part of my sub-conscious.

Apparently, I have been working through the role and importance of the character I had once deleted. In my dream I met an actress (best keep her identity a secret for now), and suddenly---in a blink, I saw her playing the role of Meagan in my book. Well, okay, that means my book makes it to the big screen, but this was a dream, right? 

I am still recording my writing and exercise hours. Holding myself accountable continues to have a positive effect, whether it shames me into being more prolific or applauds my success. I am human after all, and like everyone else, I have my ups and downs. All said, I am over the hump and moving forward again!

How do you deal with roadblocks in your writing career? Do you stop and clear the paths of distraction or climb over it? 

Copyright 2013 © Sharon Himsl

Weekly Recap: Back to Work

Recapping:
I have taken off the past few weeks, for vacation, family, illness, and just plain orneriness. Interpretation: I needed a break!! I have been resting when I feel like it, reading when the urge hits, and gardening when it isn't too darn hot (mostly too hot), but enough groveling. Back to work for me, and this week I have been working on the book again--four hours a day. Yay! Goal: finish Chapter 21 this week and 22-24 over the next three weeks. I'm in "got to get it done" mode. 

Bugged:
Why is it I can go to the hospital for an expensive test (e.g. an ultrasound) and never hear back officially from my doctor, confirming it is good or bad. Why do I have to bird dog my doctors? Everything is on computers these days, but if I have an illness or need a prescription, I am asked if I have had a certain medication before. Isn't it in your records? I ask. Well, yes, somewhere . . . Hmm . . . out of pocket I will likely pay $165 for this visit, I am thinking, and you can't tell me? I have started a home record-keeping method to monitor all this, but isn't that their job? Just my opinion of course.

Doubly bugged:
Schools in the U.S. are actually considering removing recess from elementary schools, to make room for more teaching! And those kids will be alert enough to learn more? I think not! When is the health and physical fitness of our children going to be important again? I played from morning to dusk, often outside, when I was a kid. I even climbed trees. Yes, dangerous, you might say, but what an experience I had. I climbed monkey bars too and was so strong I could arm wrestle boys in my teens. I lived on my bike during the summer, swam in the bay, and sat and rolled on the grass and sand where all those crawly things live. We have become too regimented and I feel sorry for our children today. Just my opinion of course.  

Impressed:
I am impressed this week with my city's law enforcement. Pullman, WA where I live has a population of only 31,000, but we have been plagued with suspected arson for several years. Most recently was the burning down of four apartment complexes being constructed. The university here has had a huge increase in students so housing has been in short supply. The estimated loss in its current state of construction was $13 million! Well . . . finally, someone has been arrested, and it is now a federal case, as the crimes committed have likely extended beyond our borders. The man heard voices that told him to 'do bad things' we are told. Scary. 


Inspired:
I have been reading Anne Morrow Lindbergh's North to the Orient (1935). It was her first venture into writing and written after the kidnapping and murder of her and Charles's son. I can only imagine how heart wrenching the aftermath of his death must have been. The only therapy that I can imagine working for me would have been to write my heart out, which is exactly what she has done in North to the Orient. It documents a trip that she and Charles took to China over the north pole, but there is so much more. I will do a review eventually. Here are some of Anne's inspiring words that speak to me as a writer:

"Yesterday's fairy tale is today's fact. The magician is only one step ahead of his audience. I must write down my story before it is too late."

Your thoughts?


 

Weekly Recap: On the Road

Happy Fourth of July!!




It has been a packed summer thus far--trip to California and now a trip to Utah via southern Idaho. The trip was actually delayed a few days due to complications from the 'summer flu' in my last post. I had bronchial pneumonia! But by Tuesday this week, after a full round of antibiotics and sucking on cough drops for a week, we were able to leave for Utah.

The weather has been terribly hot and without air conditioning, which are camper-truck is fully rigged to provide, we would be miserable. Traveling across country in harsh weather is nothing compared to what our ancestors once endured. En route to Utah we follow remnants of the Oregon Trail and Mormon Trail. My husband and I have often commented as we travel across country in our "modern" covered wagon that our ancestors would be horrified at the things we complain about today. For instance, my modern camper refrigerator had trouble enduring the 100 degree plus heat yesterday. We had to buy ice to keep everything chilled. Of course, when we arrived at our designated RV campground, we simply plugged into AC. Awe gee......we are so spoiled.

Sharon in front of our camper, Shoshone Falls parking lot

Shoshone Falls (southern Idaho). Isn't it beautiful?

We popped in our DVD of Robin Williams's RV and had a relaxing evening. We watch RV every year to remind ourselves of all the stupid things that RV'ers do, which of course we won't do now that we have been adequately warned, right? WRONG. Yesterday after packing up again and heading south on the road into Utah, we heard a thump-thump and didn't think anything of it. When we stopped to make lunch, we found our TV on the floor. Amazingly, it didn't break in the five-foot fall and landed on its side without a scratch (we still haven't plugged it in). We have a check list of things to check when we leave a campsite. For some reason, 'secure the TV' was not on that list! We are now sitting in our daughter's family's driveway in Utah. We watched the grand kids jump on their outdoor trampoline last night in their beautiful back yard and ate pizza on the patio. Awe......life is tough.

On the writing front, not much going on there. I did spend time before leaving, looking at books I have started that are in various stages of progress. I added a list to my Works in Progress page with images reflective of each book's theme. I did it more for my inspiration and motivation but feel free to check it out.

On a different note, I thought it would be fun to promote an amazing product I bought for my feet. I have been a bare-footer most of my life and noticed one day how terribly cracked and dry my heels are. I struck out on a mission to solve this problem to no avail. I tried pricey creams,Vaseline and even Vicks. I was at my favorite store in Moscow, ID recently and discovered another pricey cream ($8.99). A clerk told me she had heard others loved it and said it really worked. I thought: yeah, right....been there, done that, but I plunked my money down and guess what? It worked! It changes the PH of the skin, which apparently is part of the problem. Your skin actually tingles in the beginning. So here it is, my summer cream tip for healthy feet: O'Keeffe's for Healthy Feet. Trust me, this cream works!!

Okay, that's it for me. My best to all of you for a safe, healthy, and fun-filled family summer. Remember, life is short. Always make time for those you love!!

Copyright 2013 © Sharon Himsl

Sharon M. Himsl

Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011. 
Published with Evernight Teen: 
~~The Shells of Mersing

  

Weekly Recap: Summer Flu

Hi . . .
I wish I could say the trip to California was wonderful. It was for the first four days at least, but then the family came down with the flu....all six of us (our son's family and me--Vince escaped all). Sore throat, achy skin, chills, fever, cough, runny nose, clogged sinuses and ears, dizziness, red eyes, nausea, fatigue (my symptoms to be precise). (I hope my family will forgive this grumpy post). So much for the flu shot, but I assume it would have been worse without one. Online I learned that 2012-2013 has been one of California's worst flu seasons. However, I then discovered my mother was ill in Bothell, WA with the same bug, so maybe it was a west coast thing.

There is something about flu in the summer that seems so unfair. Sitting in front of a cozy fire under a comforter with a hot mug of lemon and honey tea just doesn't work. It was hot out all last week--in the mid-80s. It soured my mood considerably (you don't want to be around me when I'm sick) . . . and mostly (the worst part) it sapped my energy.

We did fit in a really interesting trip to JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory), swimming, dinner out, karaoke night, Wii bowling, and put-put golf.

With our grandsons - waiting in line for JPL tour

Boys having fun on the put-put golf course

Most importantly, Vince was able to help our son fix a major electrical problem in the house, which took several days to fix.

Dad and son at Santa Anita Park

 In hindsight though, more rest for the grandkids (late nights every night were the rule) and more one on one time with our son and daughter-in-law would have been nice. But it happens when you only see each other once a year. You try to fit in precious time with the grandkids because they are growing and changing so fast. Unfortunately, the children often come away thinking it's all about them and the adults come away exhausted. 

Nice photo of daughter-in-law - Farrell's Restaurant

I guess there still needs to be a healthy balance between finding time for both the adults and the children. But with families living so far apart these days, how does one do this effectively? All said, I am thankful for three loving grandchildren and their two very devoted parents.

No writing in two weeks but back to work again, although still coughing and a bit grumpy . . . Did anyone else happen to catch this notorious bug?

Copyright 2013 © Sharon Himsl

Weekly Recap: Perseverence Pays Off

Hi . . .

I woke up to a beautiful morning in eastern Washington today. My bird feeder is now a popular addition in the neighborhood (the 'Ritz'), this after breaking and falling a few weeks ago--my $40 plus feeder that I later discovered could be purchased for half. It scattered seed all over the patio and later awaited repair on our kitchen floor. Vince finally fixed it last week and attached it permanently to a pole. Apparently, a swinging bird house in the wind is not a good setup (considering the winds we get here). 

It was truly the week of repairs. My computer had a 'mega' infection. Our microwave went 'kaput', the garbage disposal clogged, a rock busted through the lawn mower and left a golf-size hole, the shredder wouldn't shred, and the treadmill had an annoying glitch. Amazing man that he is :-), Vince fixed them all!! It happens when you are married to someone who built his own airplane. They think they (and usually can) repair anything. He is still working on the Subaru problem, a sensor light that keeps coming on, but I am pushing for taking it to the dealer on this one.

I have been tackling the garden planting, including a brick border that is taking longer than I expected. Everything has to be level....what a tedious project, but I do like working with my hands. (I once repaired phones for the telephone company). Oh...remember the seed experiment? Unfortunately, the squash got planted too early and died.

Rhubarb and strawberries in front left. Three planters on right now with seeds.

The garden plot is actually on the wrong side of the yard!!! Big boo-boo on my part. Squash would not have thrived there anyway. All those sun-loving veggies have to go somewhere else. Sooo.....I will now plant peas, beets, carrots, kale, Swiss chard, and greens, which can handle some shade. Perseverance will pay off in the end. I'm the 'true grit' of gardeners! 

The trip to our son's home is almost here. It has been a year since we have seen his family. They have the cutest three boys in the world. Don't you agree? Sigh....wish they lived closer.
 

Grandma Sharon with the boys 18 months ago

Last....but far from least, I persevered and managed to work on my novel over 20 hours a week for three weeks in a row. I find I need to write this amount of time to stay vested in the story. The book is coming along and one chapter in particular made me cry and gave me the shivers (think I nailed the scene this time). Three and a half chapters yet to revise. I know the trip will be a huge distraction, but I am prepared to muscle my way through when I return. Perseverance works for me!


How about you? What energizes or frustrates you most when life piles up and conspires, and let's be honest here, who doesn't have a full plate? We all seem to react differently it seems. For me it helps if the basics are in place.....financial security, sound relationships, belief in God, and good health, but even there, life can get the best of us at times.

 

My preference is to muscle my way through  
whenever possible. 
  



William Blake once said: 
"Great things are done when men and mountains meet."

Weekly Recap: Finding Time to Write

Hi, Another busy week. I've been trying to increase my writing output, not on the blog....but my novel. During the A-Z Challenge I read an interesting post on Stephen King's writing schedule and was favorably impressed. He writes 4 hours a day, which means he writes only 28 hours a week. I have since read variations of this schedule, but the idea stuck. Four hours a day......Can I do it?

 As it turns out, I can to some degree. I wrote 21 hours and 30 minutes last week, up from my average 11 hours. However, the plan failed over the weekend. I admit that weekends are precious to my husband and me. It is our playtime, catch-up time, church time, relax time, shopping time, and occasional 4-day travel weekend. I try to do bills, housework, gardening and other activities during the week. (It helps that I no longer need to work outside the home).   

So on Friday we went to Thai Ginger for dinner (phad with eggplant and tofu for me; chicken with peanut sauce for hubbie). We have been in love with Thai food for a long time. We first ate Thai Jasmine rice while living in Malaysia ('95-96). We thought it funny at the time that this rice was technically illegal to purchase in Malaysia, but everyone skirted the rule. We were later stranded on a Thai train over night (another train had crashed ahead of us!), where we were treated royally and served the best lemon grass soup and other Thai courses we have ever had!

Top: train that derailed and crashed on a track parallel to ours! 
Bottom: Vince and me.....safe and sound in Bangkok (1995)

  We also saw the new Star Trek movie over the weekend, Star Trek into Darkness. This movie is mostly for younger viewers, with lots of ear-popping loud action in 3-D, but we are hard core Star Trek fans. We accept any bone Hollywood is willing to give us, and the actors they have picked for young Kirk and Spock are well suited for the roles.

 We watched the original Star Trek in the 1970s. I still remember being concerned with my two young children watching this series. I issued a ban on all Star Trek viewing, which was then nixed by the family over time. Ha! The original series seems so innocent now. We also watch Star Trek (Next Generation) on Netflix during the week. Yep, we're hard core.

So, how about you? How was your week?

Copyright 2013 © Sharon Himsl

Sharon M. Himsl

Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011. 
Published with Evernight Teen: 
~~The Shells of Mersing

Weekly Recap: Diving in Again

Well, it's been 130 weeks since I started rewriting my novel (again). Based on ten critiques, I had decided it needed major work. So where am I now? I have 94k plus words and I am somewhere between chapter 18 and 21 (24 total). Two of my supporting characters, Eric and Meagan, needed a redo, that is, their romance needed to be reinstated. I sometimes laugh about this. I actually deleted Meagan from the story in the beginning when her romance with Eric started to dominate the story. So here I am, working everything back in, but with a full understanding (now) that their story is relevant to my main character's development. Does that ever happen to you...where you delete a character and then have to work he or she back in? My goal is to finish the manuscript by June, but with family activity and summer coming, I'm not sure how that's going to work. One step at a time....one step at a time. Progress is progress, I keep telling myself. I'll dive in like I always do. 

Gardening has taken over: Yesterday I gardened nearly eight hours. Now don't me wrong....I actually love gardening. It is my other place to unwind and where creativity takes a different turn. Sometimes I feel like an artist with my pallet. What would look good in that spot? A small tree or a hedge, flowers? I have a fairly new yard, so it's been fun having bare soil to work with...all since 2008. And then there was the grow light experiment. Remember that? Wonderful news....the seeds grew! Sure hope the neighbors love squash and tomatoes! 

Books to read: More to read than a sane person should tackle, but I love to read, so what else can I do? Some I am reviewing and need to take notes. I'll fit it in somehow.

Helping family: My mother recently moved into an apartment but her old house is still being sold. I have made three trips in the last few weeks (5 hours away) trying to help. Now an unexpected crisis with social security has arisen--an overpayment of some sort. Eeeh....as if she didn't have enough to worry about on a limited income.....now this? Okay, deep breath, deep breath. I do like others I know. I help, I wrestle the problem to death, and pray. 

Travel plans: Many this year! Sometime in June and July my husband and I plan to travel to Utah and California to see our children and grandchildren. Then comes a wedding this fall in Hawaii. Ooh...that sounds nice...have never been there before.

So how about you this beautiful Monday morning? It's sunshine and mostly blue sky in eastern Washington today. Have you had a good week?

Copyright 2013 © Sharon Himsl