My big day is tomorrow!

Hi all,

How's everyone doing today?  I'm sure most of you are very happy that it's Friday and the end of the work week.  As for me, I'm happy and apprehensive about Saturday.  Tomorrow is my Book Signing/New Release Party at Irvin's Books, here in York, Pa.  I will be there from 12:00 to 2:00pm.  I understand there will be a gentleman there in the morning, who writes non-fiction, mostly about government, church, etc. 

I was surprised to hear that there will be another lady there at the same time as me tomorrow.  But, as I understand it, she and I don't write about any of the same topics.  It appears she writes erotica stories.  That's certainly one subject I do not write about, thank goodness!  I don't know who she is, as I've never heard of her before.  If you're in the area, please stop in and visit with me.

What's on your schedule for tomorrow?  I do hope you will make some time just for yourself, even if it's only for an hour.  The cleaning, laundry and kids will just have to wait until you refuel yourself.  Pick up a good book, find a comfortable chair and read.  Find something relaxing to do!

I'm currently working on a new card design.  This will be my first attempt at this design, but so far it's working out well.  I love trying new styles.  These will be my Father's Day cards, so I hope they will enjoy them.  I also tried a new design on my Mother's Day cards.  They turned out very well, if I must say so myself.  I still have quite a few more cards to make yet, but I'm not complaining, I love creating, it doesn't matter what I'm making.

I will soon be starting on another booklet.  I simply don't feel that the time is just right yet.  Whatever that means.  It's just a feeling I have.  I'm still working on my hand embroidery pieces.  They coming along well.  I won't need them until next Christmas, but that's okay with me.

I've heard the rumors about us getting hit with another big snow storm next week.  Let me tell you, I am not happy about that, and apparently not many people around here are happy.  Unfortunately, there's nothing much we can do about the weather!

I hope that if you haven't already read my articles on heart disease on this blog, that you will do so immediately.  You can also go to www.amazon.com and place my full name in the search block and then click.  All 14 of my books and booklets will come up.  I have a few booklets that have to do will not only heart disease, but also living with any chronic disease.  They're different than what's on my blog.  In case you didn't know, you don't have to purchase the books, you can join Kindle.  It's like going to the library and borrowing a book.  You will have it available to you for so long, and then it returns to amazon. 

Did you know that you can read electronically without having a Kindle or Nook.  You can do electronic reading on any electronic device:  Ipad, Ipod, laptop, PC, tablet, smart phone, etc.  You just need to follow the directions on Amazon.  Hope this helps.

Whatever you're doing this weekend, have some fun and stay safe.
Susan

It's a nice 70 degrees with a light breeze out of the West. Right!!!!

Hi all,

The only way I can describe my post title is that I day dreaming.  For any of you who do not live on the Eastern Coast of the United States, here in Pennsylvania it's very cold.  The temperatures over night fell to minus numbers.  And most of us are extremely sick of the snow.  Here, we have about 18 to 20 inches of it on the ground.  There's simply no place for my husband to pile anymore out back.  We live on the outskirts of the city and the piles of snow made from shoveling out our cars is ridiculous.  Now I understand we are to have some more tonight into tomorrow!  Heaven help us...

I have a friends who goes South during two or three of the winter months.  She's always posting pictures from there on FB.  It looks so nice:  warm, breezy, beautiful ocean waters breaking upon the sand.  OHhhhhhh my!  I can't wait until May when a group of my girlfriends and I are going to take a four day trip to Ocean City.  My husband and I also go down during the summer.  If I had my choice of moving anywhere I wanted, I would have a very large house on a hill, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, near Ocean City, Md.  You can't imagine what it would mean to me to be able to sit out on my screened in terrace and see the ocean anytime I wanted.  Of course, it would have windows all the way around it, with heat in the winter months.  I'd have to be able to sit out there all year round. 

I can't explain what comes over me when I'm close to the ocean. A particular calmness overtakes my body.  As I sit there looking out at that majestic body of water, seeming to be without end, all I see and feel is God.  How could you feel any other way.  I ask myself:  What makes the water end right here?  Why doesn't it just keep going over all the land?  What makes the waves hitting the sand sound like that?  What makes that sound so soothing and relaxing? 

If you've never felt that way, perhaps the next time you have the opportunity to be at an ocean resort, you need to sit quietly, in an empty spot, close your eyes and simply listen to the sounds of the ocean.  Not just the ocean, but the sea gulls, too.  I promise you, you will feel a calmness overtake your body.  Then, open your eyes and ask yourself the same questions I ask.  There simply is no good answer out there for me, except that it's God's doing.

Well, now to change the subject a bit.  I have a New Release/Book Signing, this Saturday at Irvin's Books, White Street, in the West end of York, Pa.  I am getting very excited about it.  I don't have any great expectations, that way I won't be disappointed if only a few people stop by.  If you live in this area, please stop by to visit me.  If you'd like to purchase one of my novels, I'd be happy to sign it for you.  I will be there from 12:00 noon until 2:00 pm.  I hope to see some of you there.

I've not done any writing lately, well, except on here.  I have something in mind, but I'm not ready to tackle it as of yet.  I have been busy creating my hand-made greeting cards for the year.  (All except my Christmas cards.)  I'm still not finished, but I'm about half way there.  Then I need to create a few all occasion cards for anyone who gets sick, has something good happen, and a few sympathy cards.

I hope where ever you are, you are well and safe.  Please don't forget to make some time just for yourself.  We all need that every day!
Susan

(I just heard that we're to have 2-4 more inches of snow tonight!)
Here's some pictures.

Sometimes, I just have to wander...

Hi all,

How's everyone doing this fine day?  I suppose you're wandering what I'm wandering about!  Well, it's been on my mind a lot lately, about how every time you turn on the news or read a newspaper, that it's always bad news.  Bad things that are going on:  shootings, robberies, road rage, simply killing another person because they didn't like the way they looked at them.  You all know this is true.  So, I just have to wander what is happening in this world today.

Just think, for one minute, how refreshing it would be to pick up the daily newspaper or to turn on the local news report and hear nothing but good things.  You know, perhaps a person saved another person from a car wreck; maybe someone donated hundreds of dollars to a local family who last their home in a fire; or a child started bullying another child and ten other kids all came to his/her rescue; maybe even about how everyone turned in their illegal guns and decided to live a peaceful life.  Or, maybe all the local gangs decided that they were now going to live their lives doing good for people instead of fighting.  I could go on and on, now couldn't I?

Well, a perfect example would be this:  I decided upon waking up this morning to head over to the Laboratory Annex and have my blood taken for my doctor's appointment next week.  I can't begin to tell you just how much I hate leaving my home in this cold weather, much less right after getting out of bed.  I dressed and headed down stairs, stopping only long enough to prestart the car and grabbing my lab. paper.  (I put it there four months ago after returning from my doctor's appointment) 

I headed out to my car and had to scrap a bit of ice off the front windows and then headed over to the Annex.  I only had to wait about 6 or 7 minutes until they took me.  After going in, I took off my coat and handed my paper to the young lady who was there.  I then mentioned how much I hate going out in this cold weather, when in fact, I normally wouldn't have even been out of bed yet. 

After a minute or two another lady joined us and the first young girl told me that this wasn't a lab paper that I had given her.  I told them that was the only paper they handed me when I left the office four months ago, so I simply assumed that it was the lab paper for testing my blood before I go again.
Well, I guess that's where I made my mistake:  I had assumed!

I have to tell you that the second lady now suggested that they pull my blood anyways, so I wouldn't have to return again another morning.  In the meantime, they would try to get in touch with my doctor's office and have a form faxed over to them.  I thanked them, telling them how much this meant to me.  They kept saying it was okay, but they had no idea how much I appreciated their thoughtfulness and kindness.

After I was home about twenty minutes or so, they called and told me that they now had the form and I shouldn't worry.  I again thanked them for their generosity and kindness.

So, why aren't things like this news worthy?  In my opinion, it's much nicer to hear about the kindness of strangers than about someone being shot in a robbery.  It makes me wander how this came about in the first place.  I have to be honest with you and tell you that I only skim the newspaper because I hate reading about all the bad things people are doing.  How about you?

Obviously, I don't have any idea how to change things, except by doing what I'm doing:  writing about it!  So, because of the kindness of two women, I am having a great day today.

Stay safe and warm.
Susan

What scares you?

Hi all,

I'm going to share with you, that if you are not afraid of heart disease, you are being very foolish.  Did you know that it is now the number one killer of women in the United States?  I bet you didn't!

As women, as always seem to put ourselves last.  We put our children, our husbands, our jobs, laundry, cooking, and many other things before ourselves.  I am here to tell you that if you don't start putting yourself first, you won't be there to see your children graduate from high school or college.  You won't be here to see your daughter or son's wedding.  There will be no more birthday celebrations for you.  Does this make you sad? 

Well, it should!  Now is the time to educate yourself about heart disease in women.  The symptoms for men are not the same as for women.  I know that many of you reading this now, have had neck and back pain, or chest pain, or an irregular heart beat.  You simply say, "Oh, I'm just tired."  Or you make up some other excuse for why you have pain.  Please realize that those symptoms are just a few of the symptoms for a woman having a heart attack. 

Then there's the stroke, or Atrial Fibrillation, or Ventricle Fibrillation.  There's also PVC's of the heart and Ventricular Tachycardia.  Of course, there's also Congestive Heart Failure, just to mention a few.  Did you know that many women in their late thirties and early forties are now suffering from one or more of the above? 

Please believe me when I say that living with heart disease is not fun!  It often results in death.  You need to start taking care of yourself.  Regular exercise, a healthy diet, plenty of rest and sleep, regular doctor visits and most of all, taking heart disease seriously, just may save your life.  Believe me, no one likes taking twelve to fifteen pills a day, but what's the alternative?  Death????

I will tell you that I put my health first every single day of my life.  I want to live, even if it's a sedentary lifestyle.  By rights, I should have died back in 2006, but I truly believe that God had other plans for me.  So, I will put myself and my health first before anyone else. 

How about you?  Do you love yourself and your family enough to do whatever you need to do to live?  If your answer is "yes", then educate yourself right this minute.  Don't let another day go by without changing how you react to your own needs and health.  Don't take yourself away from your family for good.  They do need you, but they need you healthy.

Best of luck to each one of you.  Remember to educate your husbands, fathers, sons, etc. on heart disease in women.  They love you and want you to live.
Susan

What to do next?????

Hi all,

Well, another day, another snow storm here in York County.  I really have to tell you all that I'm getting tired of all these snow storms.  Which, I suppose, really doesn't matter, because we're to have another one on Wednesday and then possibly another on Saturday.  Today's snow storm was very heavy, that's because the snow flakes weren't those nice fluffy ones.  They were filled with water. 

I feel bad that I am not able to help my husband with the shoveling anymore.  I could use the broom to push the snow off our cars, but I've been sick since last Wednesday, so I wasn't even up to doing that.  Of course, he said he didn't want me out there trying to help him.  He thinks he's still young and can do all the work himself!  He's not!

Almost all the cities and counties near us had issued an snow emergency for today through tomorrow morning.  For those of you who don't know what that means, it  signifies that no one is allowed to park on the streets marked as "emergency streets".  We live on one of them in York.  It really doesn't apply to us because we have parking pads behind our home.  But, many of our neighbors don't, and they have at least two cars per home or apartment.  It makes it very hard because they have to go off our block to get a parking space and that, believe me, is not an easy feat.

I'm trying to decide what I want to do next, as far as writing, sketching, embroidery, or what?  I really haven't done much of anything since I got sick.  I'm not quite ready to start another book yet.  I do still have quite a few hand-made cards to create.  So, I suppose that will be my endeavor, once I'm feeling back to normal. 

I have been hand sewing some small bags, made out of felt, to hold gift cards or money.  I use these for Christmas gifts.  Many times I've bought them, but I really prefer to make them myself.  Last week I finished eight of them, which look like Santa's Workshop.  It took a while to hand sew all the pieces to them, but I really love doing this while sitting in front of the television or resting.  My next project of bags will be Santa's hats.  I made one today.  I think it turned out quite well, if I must say so myself.  I hate putting money or gift cards into an envelope and handing it to family members.  It seems so impersonal.  Don't you think so?    Usually I put small hangers on the bags so they can be hung on the Christmas tree, if they like.

I haven't been doing much cooking, since I got sick.  But, tonight I did make us dinner.  Of course, there's enough left for another meal or so.  I like cooking one pot meals when there's enough for two meals.  How about you?

What's on your schedule?  I hope you have something you can do that makes you happy, something just for yourself.  If you don't take care of yourself, you can't be there for your children and spouse.

Better days ahead!  At least, I hope so.  Be safe and take care.
Susan


Here's a picture of the Santa's Hat bag.

Are you too busy?

Hi all,

How's everyone doing today?  First of all, let me say, "Happy Hump Day." 

There was a post on FB this morning that caught my attention.  So, let me ask you, "Are you too busy?"  Now, you may be asking, "Am I too busy for what?"

Well, the answer to that is, anything?  Do you clutter your days, weeks and months with unneeded chores, activities, running around and staying busy just because you feel you need to?  I'm sure that many of you, if you're truthful, will answer that question with an affirmative answer. 

I definitely used to be just like that.  Oh, don't get me wrong, I was a very busy woman.  I worked a full time job, had three daughters to raise, a huge house to keep clean, meals to cook, laundry to do.  I also had a Brownie Girl Scout Troop, and I was on the school board.  I socialized with my friends as often as time allowed.  But, I was constantly running around.  I was always busy doing something.

After some counseling, what I discovered was that I made my life that way because if I stayed busy all the time, I didn't have to deal with all the unpleasant things that were going on in my life.  When my counsellor first pointed that out to me, I was in denial.  As time went by, I realized that she was correct. 

It was very hard for me to slow down and take some time for myself.  Time to think about everything that was going on in my life, to think about all the things that were occurring in my marriage.  I truly believed that acknowledging them wouldn't really help.  Of course, that's just ridiculous!

If you keep yourself overly busy, perhaps you need to stop and try to figure out just why you do that.  What are the truly important things in your life?  Mine would be:  my husband, my immediate family, my love for God and my spiritual soul.  All the rest of the things that go on around me, are just that:  things!  Oh sure, we need to go to work to earn the money to pay our bills.  So, that's important, but it's not worth obsessing over.  And, it's certainly not worth becoming anxious and unnerved about. 
If your job is hectic and stressful (which many jobs are), when you leave your place of employment for the day, leave the stress and anxiety there!  Don't bring it home with you.  It's not fair to you, your family or anyone else.  Your employer doesn't pay you when you're on your own time.  Don't give them that power!

If you volunteer to help, every time someone asks you to, stop it!  Don't let another person put a guilt trip on you when you know you either don't want to do something, or you already have enough to do.  If it's a friend and they get upset with you, give them a day or two and it will pass (if they really are your friend). 

I know it's especially hard for women to make time for themselves.  But, you simply have to do just that.  We all make time to do something that some one else wants us to do, but do we make time, daily,  to spend ten minutes talking with God? 

So today, let me ask you to slow down.  Eliminate some of the activities that line your schedule for the next ten days.  If there's something that you can get out of doing, call and free up that time for yourself.  Believe me, it will feel strange to you, but go for it anyways.  It's healthy and definitely will improve your disposition.  Best of luck to you.  Do it for yourself.  After all, how much help will you be to your children, husband, friends, school, work place, etc., if you're hospitalized or if you pass away from a heart attack?

Have a carefree day!
Susan

What's important to you?

Hi all,

How's everyone doing on this Friday evening?  I do hope you are all in good health and looking forward to a fabulous weekend.  I know that for all you younger people, who still are holding down full time jobs, you live for the weekends.  How well I remember those days,  even though I still had house work, laundry and running the kids around over the weekends.

As for me, I no longer hold down a job, so one day is pretty much the same as the next.  Since most of my days are very sedentary, I don't do any physical things, no matter what day of the week it is.  I do like that my husband is around a little more on the weekends than through the week, as he's still working part-time hours for Triangle Fire Protection Co.  He works from home, in the home office they set up for him, which makes it nice that he doesn't have to make the hour long drive anymore.  I have to chuckle because when he comes down from his office, he says, "I'm home!".  When in fact, he never left home in the first place!

I guess you're wandering about the title to today's blog.  Well, what I'm wandering is what is important to you?  I suppose some of your answers would depend on your age, whether you still have children living at home, whether you work or not and in general, just how busy your daily life is.  I remember how little time I used to have for myself.  You know, back when my girls were still in school and I still worked a full time job. 

Some times it's hard for me to remember those days.  That time seems like a very long time ago to me.  I was always running between work, girl scouts, basketball games, picking up and dropping my daughters up at sports practices or dance classes.  There just was very little time left over because I still had to clean, do laundry and cook. 

Now, my life is so very different.  I don't usually get up until 8:15/8:30 in the morning.  My health requires that I get about ten hours of sleep per night.  After I get up, I fix myself a light breakfast and a cup of coffee.  I eat while I read whatever novel I'm currently into.  If I am doing laundry, I start that before I eat my breakfast.  Then about 9:15 or so, I go upstairs, check my emails, FB and this blog.  After that I dress and spend a little time either working on my writing, hand-made creating cards or whatever project I have going at the time.  By then it's lunch time and time to watch the local news and weather.  Of course, I then relax to watch "Days of Our Lives" on television.  I've been watching that soap, off and on, since the 80's.  (That's a long time!)

The rest of my day is spend doing mostly sitting-down things, because by then I'm pretty tired out.  I do fix dinner for my husband and myself later in the afternoon.  Exciting day isn't it?  Maybe not in your eyes, but I'm still alive and I'm grateful for that at all times. 

To answer my own question, what's important to me is that I "pay it forward" in any way I can, for all the many blessings that God has bestowed upon me.  By rights, I should have died eight years ago, but He wasn't finished with me yet.  So, I need to try to help others through my writing and cards. 

How about you?  In what way do you give back for all the blessings God's bestowed upon you?  I saw the kindness of many people during the Christmas season this year.  Why does it just seem that the only time people do those things is during the Christmas holidays?  That's very sad to me.  The love and joy that we express during that time of year, should be given every day of the year.  Am I wrong?  I truly don't think so.

So, what is important to you?  What's going on in your life that makes you happy?  What makes you feel fulfilled as a person?  What is it that you do that you feel makes you feel good about yourself?  Please take some time to think about these things.  Every one of us need to do something that lets us feeling good about the kind of person we've become. 

Best of luck to each and every one of you.  You are important, just as I am.

Just a reminder:  My newest novel, "Train-Trekking" With a Capital "T" is available for electronic reading now.  You can go to www.amazon.com , then enter my full name in the search block and click.  All of my books and booklets will come up.  I'm very proud of this newest novel.  I stepped out of my comfort zone a bit while writing this one.  I've always been very interested in Paranormal Activity, so I decided to add some to this novel, along with a paranormal mystery.  Check it out.
Susan
Susan