How Was Your Monday?

Hi all,

Well, Monday is almost over.  How was your day?  Was it exciting?  Was it extremely busy? Or was it, perhaps, just so-so?  Mine was like any typical Monday:  laundry for sure, and I did some cleaning as well. 

The only exciting thing that happened today, was that my daughter dropped off the picture she'd created for my novel.  Which means that tomorrow I will now be able to insert it into the novel and then I'll be ready to email it to the publisher.  It's been a long seven or eight months since I first started writing it.  It, also, has about one hundred and fifty more pages than my first novel in this series. 

How's the weather where you are?  It's been a rather strange day here.  When I first got up this morning, it was flurrying.  Then, shortly after that, it stopped.  Later in the morning, it spritzed rain off and on for a while.  Then from after lunch until mid afternoon, it didn't do anything.  Finally, it started snowing and still is, but it's to be stopping by around eight o'clock this evening.  All I can say about that is "good".  I'm ready to say goodbye to the snow until next winter.  How about you?

What have you been up to lately?  Are you doing anything creative?  I haven't decided what my next project will be just yet.  I would like to start spending more time on the website Fanstory.  It's a site for writers and I enjoy posting some of my stories on it.  Also, I like reading the pieces that other people submit.  I haven't done any drawing or art work of any time lately.  I'd like to get back to that soon, as well. 

My husband and I have talked about going down to Ocean City before summer, but I'm not sure if we will or not.  I'm going to be down in OC in May with my Red Hats.  Maybe we'll go someplace else for a few days.  We'll see! 

Well, I suppose I'll close for now.  I do your Tuesday will be a great day for you all.  Take care and God bless!
Susan

What excites you?

Hi all,

What needs to happen in your life to get you feeling good on the inside?  I'm sure you all know, that true happiness comes from within us, not from outside stimulus.  One could have millions of dollars, the most expensive of homes and belongings, yet still not be happy.  I suppose another term I could use would be contentment.  If you are content with your life and yourself, then you'd be happy!

Today I am happy because I am 99% ready to send my newest novel, Crafty-Cruise With A Capital C
to the printers.  I have one more picture to insert, then off it goes.  It has 368 pages, which is about 150 more pages than my first adult novel, Sassy With A Capital S.  It's a sequel novel, but each can be read on their own.  After I get it emailed to the publisher, I will download it onto Kindle Direct Publishing via Amazon.  That should be in three or four days.  The link will be found on one of my pages at:  www.susanlappmellottsauthorartist.com.   Fell free to check out all my pages while here.

What a dreary day today has been.  It really didn't start raining here, until about an hour ago (3:00 pm)  I've been so tired all day.  I think perhaps that's because of the weather.  It's so overcast and dingy out there.  One just wants to lay down and take a nap. 

My husband's been on the go most of the day, thus far.  This morning he left the house by 6:30 so he would be on time for the campground breakfast.  It was being held at the Ronald McDonald House.  He was helping to do the cooking.  They cook and serve breakfast to all the clients who are staying at the house.  When he left there, he had to make a return to Bass Pro Shops, then he came home.  After lunch, he went to the Mall to walk.  When he was finished his walk, he did some shopping for me.  I so appreciate it when he helps me out with my errands.

What have you all been up to this weekend, so far?  Whatever it is, I hope you will make some time for yourself.  We all need that!  So, if you haven't taken that alone time yet, please try to do it soon.  Before you know it, the weekend will be gone. 

All my best to each and every one of you.  Take care and God bless!
Susan

Can I say that I'm a bit frustrated?

Hi all,

Well, I'm finished writing and proofing my newest novel, "Craft-Cruise" With A Capital "C".  I was a bit frustrated this morning, because on my laptop, which is what I've been using to type my manuscript, I had a total of 367 pages.  But, when copying it to CD and opening it on my PC, I only have 332 pages.  What's up with that, anyways? 

I am using two black and white photos in my novel and after much fussing and frustration, I've gotten the first one in place.  Now, one to go.  After that's completed, it's ready to go to the printers.  Then I will be ready to place it on www.amazon.com for sale for Kindle, IPad or PC reading.  As well as, have about fifty hard copies to sell.

I know it doesn't sound like much more to do, but it's really not that easy because it's all done electronically.  This means I have to change the format from what I typed it in, to one of theirs.  This is where it gets very testy for me.  I'm not all that computer literate, but I wish I was.  One of my friends said that it shouldn't be hard because I did it before.  I answered that by admitting that it was a year ago when I first figured things out and since I'm almost 65 years old, I don't remember how I did it.   Being old, forgetful and computer illiterate, isn't much fun! 

I should probably ask one of my Grandsons to come and do it for me.  I don't believe that teens and young adults today, get very frustrated while using all the electronic devices available now.  I don't want to step on any ones toes, so if you are a senior citizen and are quite able to handle today's electronics, I say, wonderful!  I know what I need to, in order to do what I generally do, on a PC or laptop.  Other than that, I have to fudge my way along.

So, today is a very happy day for me, and also a frustrating one.  My husband said, "It could have been worse."  He's right, I could have accidentally erased the entire 367 pages.  Now, that would have done a bit more than frustrate me.  I would have been saying a few choice words and then sat down and cried my eyes out!  So, I thank God that it was basically, just that I wasted two hours this morning and nothing worse. 

After I get this novel published, I may take a little break before starting another sequel.  I'd like to do another booklet on cardiovascular disease or Congestive Heart Failure.  I, somehow, have the feeling that this is the avenue that God wants me to take next.  I spend alot of time alone, in the quiet space of my home, waiting for God to whisper to me.  I know that He does, quite often.  You just need to be extremely quiet and listen to His nudging you. 

For the past seven years, I've known that at some point in time, my heart would begin to worsen.  I think that perhaps, that's now starting.  At least, it's in a small way, for now.  I'm thankful to God for any time He gives me here on earth.  The PVC's haven't been too bad, since last week.  It was just that one day that they were so very bad.  I'm not going to worry about my health.  I will do whatever I need to do to continue living, until God chooses to take me home to be with Him.  I truly thank Him for the gift of life He's given me.

Today is a banner day for the Catholic Church.  A new Pope has now been chosen.  I know that God will bless him, giving him the strength and wisdom to guide us Catholics.  I truly love that I am a Catholic.  My faith and religion are strong and with the help of God, it will remain that way the rest of my human life and into eternity.  Praise God for today and every day!  Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentine is our newly elected Pope.

New Day, New Week!

Hi all,

I trust you all had a good weekend.  I enjoyed mine.  My Red Hat group had a Soup Exchange yesterday.  Our husbands were invited to join us.  We had a total of seven different soups to taste.  Each one was different and very tasty.  What's nice about a soup exchange, is that we all received a small container of each soup to take home with us.  Lunches for the week, how good is that?

I'm still having some PVC's, off and on.  Guess I'll just have to live with them, unless they get much worse.  I've known for a long time now, that at some point my heart would start getting worse.  I just hope it happens very slowly.

Because of this, I didn't do anything too energetic on Saturday.  Mostly I was still proofing my manuscript.  I'm almost finished now.  So, hopefully in a week or so, I will be able to email it to the publisher.  It's entitled:  "Crafty-Cruise" With A Capital "C".  It will, also, be available for Kindle at Amazon in a few weeks.  I'll keep you all posted on the dates.  I do hope you'll purchase an electronic copy for yourself.

If you haven't already read my first adult novel, "Sassy" With A Capital "S", it's available for Kindle at:  www.amazon.com     I also have my children's novel for electronic purchase there.  It's called, "The Secret In The Claw Feet Box.", as well as a booklet on Cardiovascular Disease. 

My Red Hat Group is going to be taking a trip to Ocean City during the month of May.  We are all looking forward to this venture.  I know we'll have a lot of fun with little sleep.  I'll be exhausted when we get home.  I'm hoping and praying that my heart problems won't be any worse by then.  Also, that health problems won't be a problem for any of my friends, while away. 

Being a senior citizen is a great thing, if you have your health.  Most people are retired, or only work part time by then.  What's sad, is when either the wife or the husband becomes ill, it affects the both of them.  I know this is true, because I've seen how much my illness has effected my husband.  I don't like that, but there isn't much I can do to fix it.  There in lies the sadness. 

So, no matter what your age is right now, do everything that you can do to maintain good health.  You just have no idea how important good health is as you become a senior citizen.  That phrase:  The Golden Years, is really only true if you are in good health.  Otherwise, it's a lie because there is no "golden" about these years. 

Now don't get me wrong, I love living my life, each and every day.  I thank God every day for the fact that I'm still able to wake up each morning and an still alive.  I'm not, in any way, angry at God, or anyone else because of my illness.  It is because of God, that I'm still here.  So, for that, I'm thankful! 

Here's my advice for today:  Live each day to it's fullness; tell your family, daily, how much you love them and how proud of them you are; never go to bed angry with anyone; show gratitude to God for all the blessings you do have;  show no animosity for things you don't have and don't need; and accept your life just the way it is.  You are truly blessed, realize that, accept that and be thankful!

Susan

God Doesn't Give Us More Than We Can Handle!

Hi all,

What's your take on my title?  Do you believe this statement to be true?  Well, I do.  I know that sometimes it's hard to believe this, especially when you're the one going through difficult times.  But, we need to stay strong in our faith in God. 

Today was one of those times for me.  As most of you already know, I have Chronic Congestive Heart Failure.  I have an implanted defibrillator with a built in pacemaker because I am pacer dependent and have been for most of the last twenty one years.  My heart is not working at full capacity and hasn't been for the past seven years.  Those are just the facts, as I know them.  I'm not complaining at all.  Actually, I thank God daily for still giving me life.

Today started like any other day.  Then after I was up for about a half hour, I knew something wasn't right and I knew it was either my defibrillator, my pacemaker or my heart.  I just didn't know which one.  I went to the grocery store, since Thursday is my regular grocery shopping day.  That was a mistake. 

I definitely wasn't feeling 'right' in my chest.  I started sweating a lot while I was in the check out line.  My husband has been going along with me to get the groceries, for the last few weeks, but today he wasn't able to go with me.  I should have just waited and gone tomorrow, but I didn't.  Of course, we all know that hindsight is 20/20, but I wasn't entertaining that theory this morning.

Once I got home, I unloaded all five of the bags and drug them into the house by myself, proceeded to put them away and then made myself sit down for at least fifteen minutes to rest.  I then took my blood pressure and heart rate.  They seemed normal.  So, I called my cardiologist and reported my symptoms.  She explained to me how I could do a manual reading via my Merlin.  (My Merlin reads and checks my heart rate, irregular beats and pacemaker once every day now.  I now have a chip built into my new defibrillator.) 

So, I did what she told me to do and then sat still, in front on Merlin for fifteen minutes, which was about the time it took to do it's job.  She later called me to let me know that both the defibrillator and the pacemaker where working fine.  She noted that I was having PVC's in some of my readings and assumed that was what happened this morning.  We deducted that the prescription nasal spray, which I was using for sinus congestion, could have been this mornings culprit.  By this afternoon, I was feeling much better.  I was not happy that I have been having PVC's, but I was extremely happy that she didn't tell me to go to the hospital or to the cardiologist's office. 

I can live with the PVC's and I will.  What's one more thing to deal with?  Basically, it's one more thing that I will turn over to God.  He has wide arms and will surround me with them when I need a hug.  I trust in His mercy and love.  How about you?  I hope your answer is 'yes'!
Susan

I Try Hard But Seem To Get Nowhere!

Hi all,

How's everyone doing today?  Of course it's hump-day here in the US.  For those of you working full time jobs, only two more days to go in this work week.  For people like me, it really doesn't matter.  My days are pretty much all the same, but that's okay by me. 

I've been proofing my manuscript for the second time.  I seem to get carried away with the comma.  Most of my changes are deleting them.  I'm excited about the fact that I'm just about ready to submit my sequel novel to the printers.  I'm anxious to see it in print.  Once it's on it's way to the printers, I will be ready to put it on amazon for Kindle readers.  That will be my fourth book offered on Amazon for Kindle.  You can check them out at:  www.amazon.com   Just put in my name and the books I have for sale (for Kindle) will come up. 

One of my friends has been reminding me that I haven't really told her anything about this new novel I'm writing.  She liked it when I'd read her passages while writing my first adult novel.  So today, I read her two chapters.  She was so happy to at least know a little bit about the story.  This novel is a continuation of the first one:  Sassy With A Capital S, but either one can be read on it's own.  The new one is entitled:  Craftycruise With A Capital C, and will be available for Kindle through Amazon in a couple of weeks.  I hope you'll add them to your Kindle reading library. 

Well, the weathermen, yesterday, predicted heavy amounts of snow for today.  Possibly up to eight inches, which would have been the heaviest snow storm of the season.  I'm elated because we didn't get much and now it's almost all gone because of the rain.  Hooray!  I'm so done with the snow, cold and blustery winter weather.  I'd really love some nice calm spring.   I hope it's just around the corner. 

As much as I hate having to go out in the cold, snowy weather, I would not want to live anyplace but here in Pennsylvania.  I love the change of the seasons.  How about you?  York County is my home and it's where I want to finish out my life.

Once again, I'm going to remind you to check out my pages, not just my posts.  One of them is on cardiovascular disease and it's important that everyone read it.  I also have a booklet available, at www.amazon.com on Congestive Heart Failure.  I am so passionate about the fact that most women do not know that cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in the United States today.  Please, please read these information booklets.  It just may save your life!

I hope you have a pleasant evening and I encourage you to make sure you take some time for yourself before the night ends.  Find a quiet place where you can be alone for at least fifteen to twenty minutes.  Then meditate, read an inspirational piece or just close your eyes and talk with God.  He'd love to talk with you, too. 

Susan

What's on Your Bucket List?

Good morning to you all,

Well, here we are with the weekend in front of us once again.  If you have children at home, I'm sure you're weekend will be a busy one.  If you're retired, it may be somewhat busy, but without all the drama.  As for me, I have no definite plans for this weekend.  Does that make me sad, absolutely not.  I may not have any plans, but I do have lots I can do. 

My husband took off for the morning and part of the afternoon for parts unknown.  Well, not really unknown.  He's just doing his own thing.  Which pleases me.  After seven years of me trying to get him to do things by himself, he's finally got the hang of it.  That makes me happy.  I hate that he just sits around the house with nothing to do, particularly in the winter months.  He's not one for sitting in front of the television and watching it all day.  Since my life is quite sedentary, I basically have little choice, but I can't sit and watch TV all day either. 

So, I believe that today, I will continue to work on proofreading my novel.  Perhaps I shall work on a new greeting card design or try to finish my latest quilted piece.  So, as you can see, even though I can't run around doing things, there is plenty I can do while in the comfort of my own home.  That makes me very happy, since I love my home.  I feel secure and safe here.  I don't have a problem being here in the quiet.  I do know, that I'm never really alone, God is also here with me.  He gives me this sense of contentment and safety.  For that I thank Him every day.

As far as my having a bucket list, I don't actually have one.  What I do have is the desire to complete as many creative tasks that God lets me do in the time I have left on this earth.  You see, He has blessed me with these abilities, and it would be a sin for me to waste them. 

I've been seriously thinking about my next writing adventure.  I think I'd like to write a story about how heart disease has affected my life and what I'm doing to live with it.  I also want people to know and understand how very much it effects my husband, and how much he's overlooked by others because I can't do certain things any more.  Couples who both have their health, can't understand or put themselves in our shoes.  Believe me, it's not easy for me, but it's not easy for him either.  The sad part is that he's in fairly good health and quite capable of participating in activities. 

Well, if you have a bucket list, I'd be happy to hear what's on it.  Send me a comment and let me know.  Have a safe and full weekend and find a few minutes for yourself.  You need it!  God speed!
Susan