Here's to Mistakes of the Past

Here's to the mistakes of the past.

First -- they're PAST. Over, finito. Thank HEAVENS!

Second -- they taught us the lessons we needed to become the people we are today. If you even like who you are a little bit, it's the mistakes that probably taught you the most. "The burned hand teaches best."

I was recently was contacted by my very first roommate, from back in the time when I was very young, very MUCH.

I'm sorry for the people who got hurt. But I learned some lessons that I needed, and learned things about myself I wouldn't have found out any other way.

Would I do things differently now? Probably. I have a few regrets. But if I hadn't made the mistakes I did, I might not be who and where I am. (In life not location.) I might not have written books. Might not have made the bestseller's list. Might even not have had my son, these pets, or any of the other things I treasure.

Yes, I would have different things. Would I love them more? I don't think so. Less? Maybe/maybe not. But I will never know. I am who and what I am. And if I've lost some of my muchness, (as had Alice), I have gained quite a lot more than the pounds around my middle. Experience, humor, endurance.

So again, here's to the mistakes of the past.
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I went and got the lyrics for an appropriate accompanying song from http://www.metrolyrics.com/those-were-the-days-lyrics-mary-hopkins.html
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Those Were the Days* Mary Hopkins

Once upon a time there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours
And dreamed of all the great things we would do

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Then the busy years went rushing by us
We lost our starry notions on the way
If by chance I'd see you in the tavern
We'd smile at one another and we'd say

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Just tonight I stood before the tavern
Nothing seemed the way it used to be

In the glass I saw a strange reflection
Was that lonely woman really me

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Through the door there came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name
Oh my friend we're older but no wiser
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Feeling Pretty Good Today

Feeling pretty good today.

Can't think of too much to say. Life is plugging along pretty normally. Lots of writing going on, lots of other things going on.

We did a survey about whether folks wanted a new Sazi. They do. So that's probably going to happen eventually. Right now, however, I am in the throes of finishing the first book in a new world, then rushing into the next Celia book.

If I don't write before then, everybody have a happy holiday.

Cie

Migraines sucketh

Migraines sucketh. Yes, the pretty flashy lights and ribbons of bright colors are very pretty. Distracting, make it hard to see, and precursors of doom, but VERY PRETTY.

When I was young I got migraines once a month, punctual as clockwork.
Then for years I got them once in a very great while -- maybe two a year.
Now I'm getting them every three months or so. But when I get them they're not going away in 12 hours like they used to. I can usually head off the pain with meds, but the visual stuff and the mental weirdness don't succomb as easily. For a couple of days I have sort of a "shadow" of the migraine where things are just a little . . . odd and fragile. Light's too bright. Sounds are loud. And it's really hard to focus.

I'm HOPING that this is another thing linked to hormones and now that they're settling in to their new pattern the migraines will go back to being a rarity.

Because MIGRAINES SUCKETH.

Writing, Allergies, RAIN FINALLY, and anything else I can think of.

Book is progressing. If I don't stay too long writing this I may be able to get a few pages done tonight. I actually know where I want it to go, and it's seeming to come together. But it's going slower than I'd like---mainly because I need to get to the next project but can't get this one out of my head.

I have allergies. All kinds really, but mostly to chemicals. It can trigger asthma (irritant induced asthma is what they call it) or contact dermatitis, or whatever. Basically the contact dermatitis (which may not be spelled correctly) in my case means that my skin breaks out into nasty blisters that crack and bleed and then peel (the blistering is quick. The breaking, cracking, bleeding and peeling can take long, miserable days). The wrong toilet paper can give me days of "adult diaper rash." Thus, I am somewhat fanatical about staying loyally with the products that actually work for me. New and Improved are words I dread.

The skin stuff I have used on my face for years is no longer being made. I have bought up (and had given to me as gifts) all of the supply we can find on E-Bay. It is now, gone.

ARGH!!!

So I bought some new stuff to try out. It has not made the inside of my elbows break out overnight. It has not made the other delicate skin I've tried it on break out. Tonight we will try it on a small patch of my face and hope that I don't react to it.

One interesting thing that I wasn't expecting. When I put it on my test patches last night it glittered. Seriously. Gold glitter effect. Pretty, but somewhat startling to say the least. I felt like Edward Cullen, or actually one of his female relatives (but I don't remember their names right now---ESME maybe?). I think I'll only be using this at night even if it doesn't make me break out. I'm not sure what the good conservative folks here would think of a woman wandering around town SPARKLING. On the other hand, it might be fun to find out. (wicked grin).

WE GOT RAIN LAST NIGHT!!!!! An inch even. WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!! WOOT WOOT WOOT! We need more. Quite a lot more. But WE GOT RAIN.

Okay, off to write. Wish me good luck.

Cie

Stuff and Nonsense/Status

Okay, the edits are back to the publisher, the book is in process. YAHOO!!

The book I am working on hit a snag for a bit. I went back, took out a few pages to see if that's where I "went off track" and voila, we're moving again. Quickly even. I really need to get this first draft finished and out of my head so that I can move on to Celia's next Excellent Adventure.

The health plan is working. Slow and steady, which is just fine. My goal is to see where I stand in a year. I've improved my eating habits (still allowed a bit of junk food, or I'd give up). I'm exercising daily, both aerobic and calisthenic (and have added a bit of weights now that I'm able to do a decent number of repetitions).

The good news is --
1. I'm starting to see muscle tone.
2. My balance has improved (a couple of the exercises are specifically for that.)
3. My flexibility is improving. (This has always been bad, even from childhood, so this is kind of cool).
4. I'm not as "jiggly." So I think I'm getting smaller. (Also, my clothes are fitting better. Or else they're too big [i.e., my blouses]. The latter of which is annoying[as addressed in the previous blog]. Also, I don't want to have to shop. ).

No, I have not weighed or measured. I know myself. If I saw those numbers, I'd get so discouraged I wouldn't do what I need to do. And the goal isn't really about the numbers. (Okay, yeah, I want to be in a particular size, but that's not the goal.) The actual goal is to get well. Because, when I had the chest stuff (probably bronchitis but we didn't say for sure) last time, even when I was over it, I had asthma problems and generally wasn't breathing well. No stamina. No energy. Complete lack of oxygen.

VERY SCARY.

I've had bronchitis more times than I can count. I've had pneumonia several (really seriously SEVERAL) times. The last time they did chest x-rays they commented on the scarring.

So I was looking at myself and saying. Do you want to get well, or sometime soon do you want to be one of those people dragging around an oxygen container?

Let's hear it for diet and exercise!!! I am SOOOOOOO committed to getting well.

AND IT IS WORKING!!

AND I FEEL GOOD!

Now the bad news.

Now that I've lost weight in my face and neck I can see my thyroid. Clear as a bell. Full outline.
NOT GOOD. Where everyone else has a dip, I have a bulge. NOT GOOD. I am going to be making an appointment with the doctor.

I'm a little scared about this. But I've just got to pull on my big girl panties and take care of it.

So I will.

Scheduling

Yes, this is not an exciting post subject. I mean, really, who cares?

Well, I do. Because one of the tried and true facts of life for a multi-published person is DEADLINES.

And no, they're not just suggestions. When the publisher says they want it then, they really do. And they've scheduled things like editing and cover art and publicity and publishing schedules around it.

Yes, if something drastic happens they'll cut you slack. And there is (sometimes) a little wiggle room worked in. But it's only a LITTLE wiggle room, if any. And you don't want to push that envelope. Besides, they paid you to deliver, so you need to . . . well, deliver.

So while Cathy is plugging away on edits I am faced with a dilemma.

The first book of the new book is 3/4 done. It's going well. I've actually caught some kind of rhythm, know where it's going, and it's heating up to a climax.

But the next Celia book needs to be written. It's actually scheduled.

ARGH!

So, after angst, and hemming, and hawing, and weighing my options (which, by the way, are NOT losing weight in THEIR bust thank you very much) I am giving myself until either the 15th or next weekend to wrap up the current book and start on Celia.

I want to get it finished. I really do. Because if I don't the book is liable to "turn to ashes" in my head (to quote a favorite author's phrase.)

And then there's the newsletter. And picking the winner for the prizes and MAKING the prizes for the posse members, and doing paperwork and cleaning the freaking house and doing the laundry and taking care of the animals and and and and . . . . CRAP.

Okay, enough whining. And enough stalling. Wish me good luck. I am going to check and see if the laundry is dry, then I am BACK TO WRITING.

Cie

Annoyance of the day.

Losing weight makes no sense.

When I gain weight. I gain in my belly, or my ass first.

When I lose weight, I lose in my bust and my neck first.

Considering how my weight fluctuates, it is a wonder that I do not have a negative bust measurement.

I'm exercising, and concentrating on getting fit. I am paying particular attention to my abdomen. But my blouses are what is getting loose.

THIS IS NOT FAIR!!!

LOL

It's FRIDAY!!!. .

WOOT WOOT WOOT.

Why is it that sometimes short weeks seem so much longer than regular length weeks? Seriously, it makes no sense. But true nonetheless.

I've been being very good and exercising, and walking the dog when it's still cool (I hate 100+ temperatures when I'm trying to be active). I've been writing some. Not as much as I'd like, but some. The book took a slight left turn, and I'll have to fix something, but that's not unusual.

ANYWAY, have a wonderful day, weekend, and life.


Cie