A Day in My Life, Day 18, Pre-Alarm Ideas

Jan. 19th. Welcome to Day 18 of #ADayinMyLife, in which the best ideas happen before breakfast, before my morning alarm even!

I kind of would have preferred getting back to sleep at 4 a.m., but that didn’t happen. I had a mixture of bright ideas and health worries (shoulder, inflammation levels, upcoming tests). I’m not sure why my brain was doing a jitterbug instead of a lotus on this night of all nights, but it is what it is.

On to the productive results of my insomnia! As I’ve mentioned, next week is Literacy Week in the U.S. , and I am an English teacher, so this is big for me! Several teachers did a recorded book talk with our Reading coach yesterday about a book from our youth. I did mine on a Judy Blume book, Deenie. Well, last night I remembered why it was once banned. No big deal, I am a quiet rebel. 🙂 Which led me to make this:

All true. But books are no more dangerous than walking out your front door.

My other idea had to do with newspapers.. I’ll share more Monday, since that’s newspaper day and the first day of Literacy Week!

Busy at work, hoping to spread the joy of reading!

My workday came to an end quickly. It’s a lot of fun planning for Literacy week and talking to my cohorts who share a joy for reading with me! Tonight, we’ll be having dinner with my dad again, but this time Chris can attend. It should be fun!

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A Day in My Life, Day 12

Day 12, January 13th

Happy Friday the 13th! I was running on empty this morning, even though I had my once in- a- blue -moon coffee . It had been a weird night, as I woke at 3:45 with the sound of the rain. I tossed and turned for 1-2 hours, then kept hitting snooze in the alarm and finally dragged my butt out of bed… But I woke up with the energy of those middle schoolers around me.

We were reading about Malala, who stood up to the Taliban and got shot. The students were in awe of her bravery and the fear under which she had to live. I just loved hearing their questions and seeing them so interested!

During planning time, I met with other teachers and we talked about our plans for Literacy week at the end of the month, a fun part of the job. I also had time to work a little on an upcoming lesson. By the end of the day, I had gotten my momentum back.

I came home to find out that my mom had someone come out, they changed the air filter, and the heat is working fine! Five minutes later, Amazon delivered my heaters that were scheduled to arrive Sunday. Wouldn’t you know! I got online and arranged to return one of them, giving my son the other. He was so grateful, it warmed my heart. ♥️

Just another day in my life. Have a good night everyone!

A Day in My Life, day 7 #MyLife

Day 7, Jan. 8th

I went to church this morning. It is a Presbyterian Church and such a nice place. The windows let in a lot of sunlight, and today Florida is not disappointing! I’m trying to figure out where I can help with one of their many community missions. Time will tell.

After church, I got my grocery shopping done, had lunch, and left to pick up my mom at the airport. She was on a cruise with our friend and neighbor whose dogs she took care of. Her friend was taking off on a second cruise the next day, so she got Mom a plane ticket. It was a short flight from Ft. Lauderdale! I was glad to see her get home safe. Bixby was really glad to see her too!

The ride to the airport was uneventful. I got there and went to the “cellphone lot” where I parked and waited. They had a big sign showing which flights were arriving or had arrived that hour, which was a nice addition. She was tired, but glad to be home.

My evening consisted of a nap, reading, talking to my boyfriend, and watching some more of The Inside Man on Netflix. This episode was pretty haunting. It’s pretty dark. Something I recently saw and really liked on Netflix was White Noise. I read the book years ago.

Maybe I’ll get in a little more reading. Have a good night, everyone!

Weekend Coffee Share, Of Fire and Water

Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. After a matcha green tea, I am taking my time this morning. Why? Because I can. 🙂

It is Fire Week in the Soul Coaching book, which involves stepping out of the usual routines. It being summer, I get to step out of my work routine anyway! One new addition to the routine is walking 5 miles on Tuesday evenings with a Meetup group, traipsing through neighborhoods I don’t normally frequent and seeing wonderful new sites. I do know one person in the group, but taking these walks is a new thing for me, and I love it!

Strange angle, but I had to catch that awesome sunset too!

There has also been plenty of time to rest, take my time, and live in the moment. If that is the water part of my life, it is a slow-moving, lazy river. I love those, and they certainly represent living in the moment. It is such an important thing to do, isn’t it? Of course, we may not be able to do it all the time. Still, living with uncertainty with all of the shake-ups and changes in my life recently has made living in the moment necessary at times. I have to maintain the balance.

Bixby does the dance of ‘living in the moment ‘ so well!

In honor of Fire week, I wrote a post with a poem all about fire and what the flame means in regards to moving forward. You may view it here: https://pamelascanepa.wordpress.com/2021/06/23/respecting-the-flame-poetry/

Perhaps I will blog more on my journey through the Soul Coaching book, if the spirit moves me. It has become a welcome routine every morning with a long, drawn-out breakfast. When it is done, I’ll be changing up my routines again. I actually worked on writing the Ellie book this week. There will be more of that to follow!

Have a great weekend, everyone, and thanks for stopping by for my coffee share!

Weekend Coffee Share. Summer Goals!

Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Allison at Eclectic Ali. This is the week I started my true relaxation and “detox” from stress, including occasional half-cup-of coffee days. I’m writing here and there, but I have no set deadlines this summer.

I do have goals, though. Staying healthy and not feeling stiff or pained every day are two of the biggest. The issue came up last week when my boyfriend and I went on a four hour drive to the memorial for my best friend’s husband. I get stiff just from sitting in a car for those few hours, and we came back the next afternoon.

 Friends are also family.

It was an emotional visit, but this visit was also very life-affirming. I’ve known my friend since age 13. We know so much about each other and have seen each other through some really hard times. We’ve been separated many times by circumstances and distance. Her second husband recently became ill and was hospitalized at the end. He was one of the best husbands in my opinion, even though I only met him once. She loved him very much, and everything she said at the memorial just showed she was full of appreciation for her time with him and relief that his pain was over.  In other words, she was not a basket case at all.  Her husband, whom she has known five to six years and been married to for three, had been sick in the last two years.  Near the end, he developed a rare disease, calciphylaxis, and was in the hospital for most of this last year.  It breaks my heart, but in talking with her I could see that she wasn’t dwelling on the sorrow, and instead was focusing on the wonderful times they had together.  I want to make sure to go and see her or spend time with her more often.

After returning, I’ve been setting a lot of appointments this week.  Routine stuff, and I made it to yoga twice in one week!  I felt great after yesterday’s class, but I feel sore today, so maybe I just have to get used to it.  I also went and tried out a place called Stretch Zone that does assisted stretch.  I decided I’d go back, so I purchased a month’s package to see how I improve after that month.  “Spend all you have for loveliness,” someone said, somewhere.  I used to spend it on vacations and concerts, now I am having to invest in being healthy and a whole person.  In my opinion, well worth it!  It’ll make my next vacation more enjoyable.  I also took my furbaby to get a haircut yesterday.  Yeah, he knows he’s handsome. 🙂

Beside that and binge-watching The Handmaid’s Tale, I’ve been working with a narrator to get Detours in Time onto audio, and after that, Undercurrents in Time as well! I’m trying to finish the Malachi manuscript, but I find I get pretty stiff when sitting in the same place for too long (as mentioned above).  Sometimes I stand near the kitchen counter and type.   I will be posting some brief excerpts in the next week or two!  In reading, I’m alternating between a Kindle book and its audio. That seems to work with my goal of not being too still. Please pray for me so I can get this book finished!  I think I am incorporating a good plan to keep moving.

I hope you all have a great week and are enjoying your summer. Happy Pride month to those of you who are, or have a friend or loved one that is, LGBTQ.  Happy summer to all!

Weekend Coffee Share. “Life Goes On.”

Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Allison at Eclectic Ali.  It has been another busy week, but I ended it with a day off for an appointment.  I was getting nervous about this appointment anyway, because if something didn’t look right to them, something could possibly be wrong, so I decided I would not go back to work after it and requested a whole day of leave.  Though it turned out okay, I am still glad I did.  Well, I lived through the uncomfortable appointment, a re-check mammogram and ultrasound, and after long waiting periods, was told that everything is fine and I just have a little cyst.  “No problem, you’re just getting older and things change.”  Whatever.  Thanks for the reassurance.  At least I don’t have to go for any further testing, but I tell you, this also happened last year.  I don’t like it, but I’ll rejoice that it wasn’t something more serious.

Yes, I was slightly worried as there is a lot of other stress in my life.  Not only is there a unique amount of risk to being a woman, but there is a unique amount of risk to being  a teacher these days.  Just watch the news.  Yada, yada, yada.  All of this in addition to state testing.  These last two things also burden our students, and when emotionally burdened, some of them act out.  I’ve been handling it.  I’ve also been looking inward and wondering if I am coming to a crossroads.  Is something wrong with me?  How will I face it?  Shoot, I have asked that question regarding school shootings as well.  One good end product of this week, however, is that I have been talking to God more.  I go out and walk the dog and see the beautiful night sky, and I know the world and the heavens are still there, no matter what happens to me.  I have told him I will face it like a champ and do my best.  There are so many others less fortunate, who have fought or lost battles with their health or fought to save the lives of children.  I would never go down without a fight in either scenario.

The sum of my week’s anxiety was that I am healthy, maybe getting old and changing, but healthy.  So, the rest of the day consisted of relaxing and then discovering my hair stylist could fit me in for a cut and style.  I need this hair to be easier to do in the morning.  I’m really going for asymmetric.  Hey, my chiropractor has told me one leg is longer than the other.  We all are pretty asymmetrical, so let’s celebrate it!  🙂

In between and in the waiting room, I had done a lot of reading and just started The Gum Thief.  I must say, I’m really enjoying it.  Although, in its paperback form (which I had ordered) the print is small enough to require me to wear readers and remind me I am not thirty anymore.  Blah, blah, blah.  No complaining here!

At the end of the day, Mom and I had dinner together at a little neighborhood restaurant/bar.  There was karaoke outside so we went out and had a drink.  It was fun to people watch, but I decided I wanted to sing.  It’s been a while, and why not celebrate my nutty, fearless self!  I sang Bobby McGee by Joplin and Back on the Chain Gang by the Pretenders.  Mom had great fun just watching me and talking to other people around.  I am so glad I took her outside for the fun.

My current read is pictured above, and I am loving it!  Two people who work together and have weird observations on life share their perspectives when one of them finds the other’s journal.  He is a budding writer, lonely and middle-aged.  She is a young Goth complete with black lipstick.  It’s really entertaining!

Oh, I am seriously looking forward to summer and all the writing and reading I can do (though I’ve started the reading already)!  Before this, I just finished Kindred by Octavia Butler and loved it!  See my review at Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2075655367

 

I have also been thinking on ideas for my WIP, Malachi, and at the same time, the character of Ellie, who pops up in Malachi’s life, is getting stronger.  Here is a visualization I found this week of Ellie at one point of her life: https://pamelascanepa.wordpress.com/2019/05/09/character-visualization-and-wip-detours-in-time-series-amwriting-scifi/

That’s my week in a nutshell! I am healthy, Schrodinger’s cat has been released, better safe than sorry, and all those other lovely platitudes.

You all have a great week!

#WeekendCoffeeShare. Summer’s Falling Action…

Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Diana at parttimemonsterblog.com.  Here we are, right at the end of the summer’s plot, getting ready to tie loose ends up.  *sigh*  If we were having coffee today on the 29th of July, I’d tell you:

I’m on the fence about summer’s ending.  It’s almost over.  I took two extra work days next week for extra pay.  Yikes!  I did get my haircut today, so I beat the back-to-school rush.  I also plan to have a full beach day with my son next week.  Yay for the beach!  Yay for family time! I’m so proud of him.  He’s doing really well at his job.

I do feel a little relieved about summer’s end though, because that means we’ll get closer to cooler weather!  Yes!  It also means I’ll get into a routine again once work starts.  I sort of had a writing, yoga, walk-the- dog routine all summer, but it’s too easy to get off schedule lately.  I get distracted.  My focus is way off!  Well, maybe this is just my way of relaxing for the summer?  Maybe I just deserve this!  Considering, we had a family crisis in May, my mother broke her arm, and I developed laryngitis that lasted two weeks.  I won’t be too hard on myself, then.  That, and, I realize it’s easier to write when the weather’s cooler and the sun is not so bright in my window.  I’m the sort who will write when the spirit moves me.  And it will!  I still get ideas constantly, and I write them down, one sentence at a time.  I’d promised myself to do cardio in addition to yoga this summer, and that didn’t pan out so well.  It’s just too darn hot!  I need an indoor hammock for reading.  Doesn’t that sound nice?  Oh, I suppose an indoor bike would be great too…

At least I have been blogging regularly.  This Weekend Coffee Share is a great way for me to catch up with fellow writers, bloggers, and readers.  I’ve been sticking to that, and I’ve done a few flash fiction challenges.  This week, I wrote “My Friend” for the Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers challenge.  You can see it here:   https://pamelascanepa.wordpress.com/2017/07/27/flash-fiction-for-aspiring-writers-my-friend/   I’ve also changed the presentation on my blog page, so that there is a category cloud.  If you want to see my poetry, you click on the word “poetry.”  I have 22 entries so far.  If you click “reflections,”  you’ll get more personal, biographical type writing about family, life, growing up, all that good stuff.  “Writing” is where the stories and flash fiction are housed, and “Publishing/Indie marketing” is where I discuss book progress, updates, and Visual Promo Graphics or character introductions.  Have a look!  I also gave a mention the other day of a chance to win a Kindle copy of my latest book, Detours in Time.  You can visit and enter the giveaway at http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d9b75bf71/

On the subject of my book, Detours in Time, which I can’t stop talking about as if it were a healthy, 9 lb. baby I just recently birthed,  let me take a moment of gratitude!  A fellow author saw a Facebook post and bought my book in paperback on Amazon.  I asked him to e-mail a photo of himself with the book for my Facebook album, and he did!  He even told me he was enjoying the book. Someone has been reading it on Kindle Unlimited this week, and there were two recent reviews.  Thank you to those who have purchased, read, or reviewed the book, and to whoever is currently reading it!  It’s my beautiful baby, and I am a proud mamma! Having said that, if someone gives me a less than 4 or 5 star review, my thought is to thank them for a review. 🙂

I’ve also been reading like crazy this summer, since I have the time.  I read on Kindle on my phone until the battery’s almost dead, then plug it up and go get another book, preferably non-fiction so it doesn’t interfere much with the story-line in my head.   I’m reading a YA fantasy story for a review group, and then interchanging it with the non-fiction when my battery dies.  I got these from the library.  Aren’t they beautiful?

That, and I started the fifth Outlander book over a week ago, but it will take me quite a while to get through that book.  I am 15% of the way through, because it has quite slow exposition with a few lovable moments with the characters I’ve gotten to know.  However, my life is going to amp up soon with full-time work, on-the-side writing/ book promo, family stuff and generally trying to be a human.  So, I may open that one on holiday weekends, maybe at Thanksgiving time or Christmas I will finish?  Either way will work.  I just can’t chain myself to the couch in order to finish that one anytime soon.

That’s my week.  How was yours?  **You can join this week’s Coffee Share on Diana’s blog or by clicking on the “InLinkz Linkup“ in her most recent entry.  I encourage you to click on the linkup button to see what’s been going on in the lives of other bloggers and join in, even if you haven’t before!

 

Z is for Zone. #AtoZChallenge

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.

I am in the zone lately, reading and writing like a maniac, learning marketing ideas as an indie author, and escaping into fiction reading just as often.

I wanted to write about something Zen for Z,  but let’s be honest, I have no true idea about Zen.  My home life is a little chaotic.  Work is terribly busy, so I just escape into a book.  It’s nothing new; I’ve done it all my life.  I had my phases where I’d binge watch certain things on Netflix, but I can’t seem to make myself a passive recipient of others’ ideas right now.  I don’t think reading someone’s book is passive at all.

“Zone out” means you become inattentive or unbothered, and I have to use that in my life right now.  There have been many changes in my home, and I have to accept them. Know what helps?  Getting in my zone.  Every now and then I have to reconnect with those around me, though.

I look forward to telling you more about what’s happening in my zone in the next few weeks.

*For the month of April, I’ve participated in the April A to Z Blogger’s Challenge!  Can you believe it’s just about over?  I’ve done it!  Each day this month, I have written something based on the next letter in the alphabet.  It’s been challenging and fun while giving me a chance to pause for reflection as well.

Want to know more about the A-Z blog challenge?  Visit http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com