9 December 2009

Hello fellow writers and everyone.

My sister moved here just before Thanksgiving and I must say it has been very nice having here here. She is spoiling us. She cooks and cleans and makes me tea! :o) *smile* YES..... This is why I call her the 'good daughter'. :o) Not that I'm the 'bad' daughter...... I'm the 'other daughter'. *haha*

Christmas is fast aproaching and I haven't even started making peanut brittle yet! *gulp* I will get the peanuts on the weekend and get started. :o) Heaven forbid I not make peanut brittle!

Novel group was supposed to be tonight, but with the weather getting cold and the wet roads freezing, I e-mailed Roberta to say I wouldn't be going. She in turn canceled tonights meeting because yet another person wasn't going to be able to make it. Our next meeting I believe is January 6. :o) Good timing as not to worry about another meeting before Christmas.

My face is again breaking out as if I was a teenager. :o( *frown* I really don't think there is anything much to be done about it since I can not take anything because of that pesky blood clot I had in my leg. *rats* :o( It's just frustrating. *grrrrr*

I hope everyones Christmas is blessed.
Hugs, ~Susie

19 November 2009

Hello Everyone. My sister moved to Indiana last week! She is staying with us for now. I'm excited about having her here. :o) She went with me last night to the novel group.

I took my revised chapter 1 for the other members to go over. I just hope I've added enough depth to Elaine for them to like her more. LOL. I think I have. (I hope I have.)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! With the aproaching big meal preparations I don't know if I will post again before the big day.

Onward to chapter 2....... *gulp* (Wish me luck.)

Hugs to all,

Keep dreaming,

~Susie

5 November 2009

Well..... First off I want to say, in response to another blog I follow...... I am an adult child living with my mother! :o) Not to mention my son and my husband also live with her! So.... Who's house is this? It is OUR house. Our home. ALL all of us. :o) *smile*


On the writing front. *sigh* It looks as if I need to rewrite my first chapter before the next meeting. I have started the rewrite, but with the comments I got at last nights meeting, I have much more work to do.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Mother-in-law.

Keep writing and try not to make yourself crazy!
~Susie

27 October 2009

I decided to begin a rewrite of my first book to up date it and such. I made this decision on Wednesday last week. On Wednesday, Joe came home from work (on his birthday) sick. By Thursday evening I was getting sick. It came on quickly. The pigs were flying around here like you wouldn't believe. On Friday I was so ill I thought I should have gone to the hospital. I couldn't even sit up in bed without help. I lived on tylenol every 4 hours for 48 hours or so.

By Saturday evening I was feeling up to eating a little something. I am much better than I was. I called the doctor office on Monday. They think we have H1N1. (SWINE FLU!) I don't doubt it. There is nothing to be done for it except rest and fluids. Hubby is still sick. More so than I am. Our son also had this the same time we did. Three sick folks in one house. Not good. Mother lives with us and she had gotten a flu shot about 3 weeks ago. She wasn't near as sick as we were. All she noticed was a little increase in cough.

On the other hand I was wiped out for the weekend. Hopefully the worst is over and we are all on the mend.

Needless to say, the rewrite has not been started yet. I will get to it. But I might need another day or two to rest.

Remember...... Duck if you see a flying pig! :o)

~Susie

12 October 2009

Hello all. Roberta had a conference to attend this week and our meeting has been postponed.

I went to the neurologist and he said my MRI has not changed since the one I had in November 2006. Almost three years! That's very good news. :o) I attribute this to God and exercise. :o) Mostly to God. If it weren't for the grace of God, I wouldn't be able to exercise as much as I do. Not that I do so much, but what I am able to do I believe has helped to keep me healthy. (Now if I can just stay away from food that isn't so healthy. But I really do like ice cream.) Thank you GOD!

The rewrite hasn't started yet. :o( I want to revise as I go along. I suppose 2 more weeks won't kill me. I could work on the internet story instead. *smile*

04 October 2009

Hi Everyone. I believe my mind must be in overdrive the past day or so. (haha) I've figured out what I want to get hubby for his birthday. :o) His birthday is the 21st.

I've also decided to begin the rewrite on my first manuscript after the next meeting on the 14th. I'm going to start the story where chapter 6 used to be. (6 will be chapter 1) I'm hoping to eliminate a load of back story and instead, sprinkle it (the back story) in as needed along the way. I invited a lady from exercise to the group, as we have one lady who is leaving us. I hope Jeanenne likes the group as much as I do.

My leg is feeling better. I can tell the clot is still there, but it isn't near as painful as when I first noticed it. I'm taking the aspirin as directed by my doctor. Speaking of doctors...... I see my neurologist on Monday. Routine stuff. Getting the results of the MRI I had last week.

Follow your dreams.
~Susie

1 October 2009

Hello Everyone. Novel group last night was good and a little sad. One of the ladies is leaving the group. She doesn't feel it meets her needs at this time and is joining another group. I wish I knew what group she is joining. I'd like to get into as many groups as I can to learn as much as I can. BUT..... I suppose more isn't always better. In the mean time...... The feed back I'm getting from this group is great. I'm thinking about things differently. YES..... I know I've written a good story, but the suggestions I'm getting will make it look different. Better structured.

The people who have read this particular story so far have all liked it. Only one person has said anything about which scenes should come first, or even if they should be included. This is why this group is important. They are writers with some experience. They see right off the errors I'm making and give me suggestions I can use or discard.

On a lighter note. My friend Lori is now a grand mother. She is very pleased with her new grand daughter. The delivery was a little rough on mother and baby, but both are fine now. Welcome to the world Brookelyn Makenzie‏!

Keep on dreaming.
~Susie

29 September 2009

My leg is somewhat better. It feels a little better. Hopefully I'll be back to normal soon. Doc said it might take 6 to 8 weeks to dissolve completely.

It looks as if I need a new keyboard. *frown* The space bar on this one isn't working properly. *sigh* No big deal I suppose. They aren't very expensive.

I got a rejection letter from the children's magazine I sent the story to. Also, not a huge deal. Things will be better once I've gone to the conference and gotten more information on submitting and such.

Keep dreaming. ~Susie

23 September 2009

Hi Everyone. I went to the doctor a week ago and they sent me for a doppler of my left leg. It has been determined I have a blood clot in my left calf. *frown* I went back to the doc on Monday and he said to continue to take aspirin to thin the blood and that it will take 6 to 8 weeks for the clot to dissolve. He wants to see me back in a month. He said the clot is in an outer vein and doesn't pose a problem enough to warrant hospitalising. In the mean time I can return to exercise next week amd I am to try to keep my leg up as much as I can.

So..... What caused the clot? They believe the hormones I was taking caused the clot. I am no longer taking them. We'll see what happend next. In the mean time I will continue to rest with my leg up. :o) A good excuse to watch tv I suppose. :o)

~Susie

13 September 2009

Today is the six month anniversary of my brother's death. I never knew it would be this hard six months after. I can only imagine how his wife feels. (She is a nurse and has to work this afternoon.) Life goes on for the rest of us. The novel group meeting on the 16th is also his birthday. Mom commented on the way home from church that she is also feeling weepy. The pain of loss of a loved one stays for quite some time. Dad went to be with the Lord in 1995. I'd forgotten how long the sorrow stays around. :o( Not that it ever truly goes completely, but the newness of loss still feels fresh.

On a lighter note: I went to Lebanon on Saturday to Donaldsons Finer Chocolates. I wanted to see if their lemon creams were as good as Thorntons Chocolates. I found they are not as good. Thorntons Chocolates are probably the best chocolates I've ever tasted. Ordering Thorntons Chocolates online is expensive. What with having to pay international shipping charges. The closest comparison would be (American) Fannie May Candies. Fannie May has great mint meltaways and their strawberry creams and lemon creams are as good as Thorntons. AND..... I really like the strawberry creams and lemon creams. Needless to say, I won't be driving to Lebanon for lemon creams. :o) I can always get them online if I want them, from Fannie May. Does this make me a candy critic? Maybe. I just know what I like. :o) *yum*

The sweet corn vendors around here have had the best sweet corn. We've been eating a lot of it because it is so good this year. Thank you Lord for the food we eat and the heavenly quality!

SORRY about the post being all crammed together. For some reason, it doesn't seem to want to let me put spaces between the lines. *frown*

Have a great week everyone. Write your hearts thoughts. ~Susie

07 September 2009

As the Labor Day weekend is winding down I must say I've had a nice weekend. I got my hair cut on Saturday. We went to brother Randy's for a cook out after church on Sunday. Joe got up this morning and cooked me breakfast. Earlier we all went to Pepe's for a bite to eat. *smile*

What's up? Makes one wonder. :o) ~Susie

Entry #2 for 31 August 2009

For those who don't know. My older brother, Bob, died as a result of a one car accident on March 12. When the accident happened, we read in the paper and got info from the police that they suspected speeding and alcohol were factors in the crash. He was taken by life line helicopter to Indianapolis, where he died before morning.

All this time I've been angry with him for drinking and driving. I assumed he was drunk. I believe that if you've even had one drink you have no business behind the wheel of a car.

I went with mom to her doctor appointment today and she took along the blood toxicology report from the Marion County Coroners Office. I have no idea what the legal limits are for blood reports. The doctor assured mom that from reading the report, he did indeed have alcohol in his system, but probably not more than one beer. He said the level was low.

I am relieved to know he wasn't drunk while driving. AND...... I'm sorry for assuming the worst about my brother.

Can I search for someone elses blog?

Can anyone help me? Can I search for a google address and see if there is a blog posted on here somewhere?

31 August 2009

Happy Birthday to my sister in law Reva!

I got a 40 page short story in e-mail from Roberta yesterday. I've read it. I think it's good. I've printed it and will take it on Wednesday to novel group with my comments and markings. I told Roberta I didn't feel qualified to critique her work. She told me, who better than a normal reader which is who will be reading once it is published. That made me feel better. *smile*

I've been in a bit of a rut with my writing. I wasn't able to attend the Defining Moments group on Saturday. The flu I had all last week, hubby seems to have taken from me. *frown* Poor baby..... I know how yucky he feels. I'm hoping now that I'm feeling a bit better I can shake this sludge from my brain and get back into writing.

Exercise today! (was too sick to go last week) Surely the exercise will help clear my brain. :o)

Happy Monday and happy writing everyone.
~Susie

26 August 2009

Another picture of Dan when he was a pup. Can't you see the evil in that little blue eye? He was thinking..... As soon as you turn your head I'm going to chew on the corner of this sofa, and the chair and the table and that pair of shoes over there..... etc, etc, etc.

*giggle*

Happy Birthday Danny 25 August 2009

FINALLY! The devil dog turns 2 years old. In the first picture he was around 18 months old. (posing with my great niece, who was playing dress up in my old wedding gown.) In the second picture he was around 8 weeks old. The whole world is no longer his chewy toy. Thank God for small favors. *smile*

17 August 2009

Hello Everyone. This afternoon I sent my children's short story, "THE SOCK" to Highlights Children's Magazine. I hope they accept it for publication.

I helped my nephew, Dakota, with an essay he needed to write. :o) I think I was asked to help because he was told it needed to be a 500 word essay. *giggle* Five hundred words sounds like a truck load of words to an eleven year old. Poor little guy was really worried about it. He kept asking me, "Will we be able to write more than eighty words?" Apparently 80 words to him seemed huge. I assured him if we followed the guidelines set forth we would indeed be able to write 500 words. He was pleased and relieved when when were done. It was just short of two pages, and right around 560 words. It was nice to see him smile because of what we had acomplished. I hope this shows him that writing isn't such a daunting task and if he sets his mind to folloowing instructions he can write just about anything he is asked to write.

God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
Follow your dreams.
~Susie

12 August 2009

I like the novel group. If I take the suggestions made - my book will take on a whole new look. It does need to be updated if I want to find a publisher for it. I didn't realize how "dated" it sounded. In my defense, that book was born in my imagination in the early 90's. (No wonder it sounds dated.) It will be a major undertaking for me to revise and rewrite. I think it would be a good thing for me to do. *sigh* I have the project I'm working on and now another project I could start. I think it is best I don't start a rewrite just yet. I'd like to get more input before changing everything.

Keep on your eyes on your dream. ~Susie

9 August 2009

I went to an informal gathering of my class mates. Last night at the Manor Lounge went quite well. Better than I expected even. *smile* I don't know what I expected. I suppose I expected the clicks of high school. There was none of that as only four people showed up. It was nice to find out where some people are now. Many of our graduating class have passed on for one reason of another. More so than I thought would have by now. But with heart attacks and auto accidents, it is bound to happen. And we aren't getting any younger. Thinking of these ten or twelve who are no longer with us makes me think of my brother who died in March. We expect to have to bury our parents, but we don't expect to have to bury our siblings and our children. I can imagine the heart ache endured by the parents of the ones gone from our class. But only because I've seen first hand how it has been on my mom.

I cleaned the green beans Terri gave me on Friday. A welcome addition to dinner. This time of year is nice, with all the fresh produce. I've got fresh green peppers, green beans and cucumbers. God's harvest is plentiful. Thank you Lord.

4 August 2009 Upcoming Confrences

I read the other day, the RWA Conference is in Nashville in 2010. That's only around six hours drive from me. The conference will be expensive. *frown* So now I'm a bit conflicted. I want to attend the ACFW Conf. in Indianapolis in September 2010. Do I try to attend both? Or choose between the two? I'm afraid I will have to pick one or the other because of money issues. $400 - $500 for a conference is expensive. I'm not sure if this cost includes the cost of the hotel room. I want to stay on site, where ever the meetings are going to be. I don't imagine the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, is cheap. *sigh*

Either way, I'll need to start saving now! :o)

I've a womens ministry meeting today at church. I thought the book discussion has gone well. I hope we decide to plan another (book club) of these events.

I'm a work in progress. I don't imagine I will ever be done. I can not see God's being done with me anytime soon. Lucky for me He isn't tired of working on me yet. :o) I pray about these things and think on them. Am I doing what I want to do? Or am I striving to do what God wants me to do? Why must I constantly question myself? I suppose it is because God made me this way. :o)

Keep on Dreaming (and Writing!)

~Susie

30 July 2009 CHRISTMAS in July

We went to Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, today for a lunch matinee. http://www.beefandboards.com/ We saw "Smoke On The Mountain - Sanders Family Christmas." I know..... you're all saying, CHRISTMAS? In July? Yes. They put on a Christmas show. *hahaha* They are very good shows. "Smoke On The Mountain" is a series of sorts. They have a family type saga going. All about a gospel singing family. The shows are rather funny. One of the charters, 'June' doesn't sing.... she signs. She was often disappointed because no one there was deaf. (I guess you had to be there and SEE her signing! *hahaha*) The food, the music, the show, were all very good. My mother has been to see other "Smoke On The Mountain" productions. She said they were very funny as well. I'll be watching the Beef and Boards site for more of these shows.

29 July 2009

I went to the Novel Group this evening. Along with Roberta, I met Robin and Mary Ann. They all seemed nice.

I got some good feedback on the first chapter of my first manuscript. (*working title* Face Of An Angel) As it has been so many years since it was written, there were some obvious mistakes. Not really mistakes, just things that were out of date for today's reader. I hadn't thought about those things. They thought it could use more details. I had cut quite a bit from it when I rewrote it and I should probably put some of it back in.

Over all it was a positive experience for me. I hope I fit into the group and can give as well as get good comments. I am looking forward to the next meeting and getting more feed back.

Happy Writing! ~Susie

FOR MELISSA 22 July 2009

This is a link to YouTube. Saddle up your horses girl. Discover all the new horizons just waiting to be explored, this is what we were created for! Follow Him. *smile*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrrjbTc0urk

HUGS to you. :o)

18 July 2009

Here it is Saturday again. I've had a headache almost all week. It's been awful. I believe it to be my sinus's. *frown* I'm feeling better but these weather changes are killing me.

We took mother to dinner Wednesday evening for her birthday. That was my excuse for not going to Roberta's novel group. I had the worst headache. Although we did take mom to dinner, I went home afterward to lie down. I did however go to Roberta's and exchanged chapters with her. What she gave me was her chapter 17. Although it wasn't a first chapter it was very well written and didn't make me feel confused as to what was going on in the story. She also gave me an outline for a book/work for hire project she is working on and the first two chapters of I believe the same work for hire. I've not read those yet, but if they are anything like chapter 17, I know I'll like them. I need to go to the library this week and check out one or two of Roberta's books. Seems a good idea to be a little more familiar with her work.

Tuesday is Defining Moments group meeting. I don't want to make the mistake of pulling out my critique chapter too early. I don't think I want another 'roasting'. *ha-ha*

Tonight is a cook-out (bbq) at Mike and Kellie's house. My strawberry pretzel dessert and brownies are ready...... Bring on the crispy (burnt) weenies and pass the mustard and onions. YUM!

Happy writing everyone.

~Susie

12 July 2009

This was the second Sunday for our 'new' pastor. So far so good. (In truth hubby and I missed his first week in the pulpit as we were out of town.)

I'm looking forward to Wednesday evening. I'm going to a writers critique group at the home of author: Roberta Gellis. http://www.robertagellis.com/ I didn't realize there are so many published authors in Indiana and in this area. I don't imagine this will be a group of people who will hold my hand and tell me how wonderful my work is. I imagine this group will be harder to impress with my style of writing.

I might e-mail another local author: Cara Putman: http://www.caraputman.com/index.html I believe my style writing and hers are more similar. She might agree to read the first chapter of one of my books and give me feed back. She seemed very nice and genuinely interested in helping other writers when she spoke at the Defining Moments group.

GOALS THIS WEEK:
E-mail Cara Putman.
Attend Roberta Gellis critique group.
Continue to work on current project writing.

Happy Writing and don't lose your dream.

11 July 2009

Defining Moments Writers Group meeting was tonight. I took three copies of the first chapter of one of my books to trade with some of the ladies in my "small group" for critique. When Darren, our group leader, saw we were exchanging chapters, he thought it would be ok to read it to the whole group. *GASP* I was expecting Melissa, Tori and Lynda to read and comment on my work, but I was a bit intimidated by having the whole group hear what I had written. Tonight's group was smaller than normal. Only eight of us in attendance tonight. *whew*

At first, when Darren started reading, there was some laughter and I was ready to snatch back my copies and run out the door, but they got serious and read through the nine pages and decided they liked them and said, yes it did hook them and make them want to read more to find out what happens next. THAT is what I wanted to know.

Melissa and Tori also had their work read out loud and so I wasn't alone in the "roasting" so to speak. There was a lot of laughter and fun tonight.

I'm looking forward to reading the copies I got from the ladies (of their work) again at my leisure and making comments or suggestions. I like the Defining Moments group. I believe we are all on the same page with wanting to write. The ACFW Conference was mentioned tonight. It will be in Indianapolis in 2010. I can hardly wait. Several of the others are planning to attend. They joked about the possibility of having to reserve a whole floor as the group going from our area might take up a whole floor. *smile* We can only hope.

Happy Writing!

~Susie

Defining Moments Group meting tonight

Hello Readers. This being my first blog post, I am experimenting with the way things look. Defining Moments Writers Group meets tonight.