Facebook. Most of us use this form of social media; others choose to avoid getting involved. I avoided it for the first year of so because I was taking grad school courses online, and I felt that I spent more than enough time chatting with classmates online. Once I finished my degree, I decided to give it a try. Needless to say, I was quickly and unexpectedly reeled in.
At first it completely stressed me out. I would get friend requests and have to analyze them. Obviously, many were no brainers, but then there were those from people who never even acknowledged my existence, so I would have to wonder why they would suddenly want to be my friends. I decided that if someone cannot speak to me in public, I would ignore his or her request. I also had a friend who said to use the 'Walmart Rule'. If you would speak to someone at Walmart, you can be a friend. If you wouldn't speak to him or her, ignore it! That was solid FB advice in my book.
So, here I am, two years and a few hundred friends later, and Facebook still stresses me out on occasion. It can be such a wonderful and positive thing, but it can also be a source of frustration and anger. First, the positive. I am not from Tell City originally. I had many friends from Northern Indiana, specifically South Side Christian Church, with whom I had lost contact. Through Facebook, I have been able to reconnect with some of them, and it has been a complete joy. One woman, the mother of one of my childhood friends, posted some pictures of church activities, and those pictures included my sister, brother, and me. I was nearly in tears as I looked back at our years with our church family, and I realized that we had mattered. They kept pictures of us. Of course, I was also able to save some to my own computer so that I would have them to share with my children.
My family is literally spread out all over the United States We have been able to keep up with one another, and share in life's little ups and downs through Facebook. Because my father and his brothers all died young, I had lost track of three of my cousins. Once the Internet was available, I began searching for them. I knew that they had grown up in Florida, but was unable to find them. One day about five years ago, I searched again. I was able to locate their names, which led me to their mother's phone number, and once she believed I wasn't some psycho looking for her daughter, I was able to get my cousin's phone number. We met via telephone, and have maintained contact since. Once I joined Facebook, I was able to become friends with her and her brothers. I have gotten to know my cousins because of Facebook. I hope to have the opportunity to meet each of them face to face, but at least I have some contact with them. It has been amazing to read their posts, and to realize how much we have in common, despite not having grown up together.
I thoroughly enjoy seeing pictures of my friends' children, vacations, and adventures. I like the news updates from 14wfie, the positive quotes from Positively Positive, and the fitness advice from numerous running sites. I like the funny posts from some of my friends. I like that important information can be shared, and that when someone needs something, there is always someone willing to help. When my nephew died, the Facebook messages showed me that people cared about what we were going through. And who doesn't like the countless birthday wishes we receive?
So, what's not to like? A lot, actually. Over a year ago, there was a Facebook page that nearly tore our town apart. People can post anything, and others believe it to be gospel. I had seen so many lies posted, yet could say nothing. A couple of weeks ago, a parent posted about her now-grown daughter being bullied in high school. I knew that her child also bullied kids (I witnessed it), but because I taught my girls to handle their problems and did not call other parents, I could say nothing. Recently, a good friend of mine, who does not have Facebook, told me that she learned of some negative posts that referred to her, although no one used her name. It hurt her deeply because these people do not really know her. They base their opinions on comments and rumors they have heard. Is it right to post something about someone whom we don't even really know? Do people not realize that anything they post is out their for the world to see?
I am also bothered by parents who allude to problems their children are having with other kids. They don't mention names, but by simply posting, they are perpetuating the problem. They say they are tired of the drama, but when one posts on Facebook about being tired of the drama, he or she is just adding to the drama. If your child is having a problem, Lord knows they all do, talk with a friend; don't post to 500 friends. It just isn't the place for it.
My worst experience with Facebook was when a friend posted something extremely hateful about his ex-wife. The mother of his children. And he is friends on FB with his daughter, so she undoubtedly read the post. This was mean and uncalled for, and I immediately deleted him. I would never criticize my ex-husband, his family, my step-children's mother, or anyone else on Facebook. How can that be justified? It would just hurt someone I love. It isn't right. I have read posts from step-parents who constantly proclaim their love for their step-children (which I don't doubt), yet they then go on to publicly degrade the children's other parent. If you love a child, you do not criticize his or her parent on a social networking site. Ever.
Now that I have vented, I will reiterate my love of Facebook. I so enjoy my friends and the daily smiles they provide. If I have offended you with my dislikes, I cannot apologize. I feel that Facebook is meant to be a form of entertainment, and negativity does not entertain me; it irritates me. There are enough negative stories on the news every day. So be happy! Post joys and funny things your kids say. Post your pictures. Post positive quotes and what you ate for dinner. Let me know about the great movie you saw or where I can find a bargain. Brag on your kids. Brag on yourself!
Peace and Love and Happy Thoughts
Monday, December 5, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Thanksgiving in the Country
Have you noticed (especially you women who are reading) that preparation for Thanksgiving takes weeks, but within 30 minutes, everyone is finished eating? Our dinner was at our house this year, with 24 family members in attendance, and began about 1:00 pm. By 2:00, my sister-in-law began to straighten up the kitchen - until I said, "STOP!" I told her that after all of the time that we had put in, I was not going to start cleaning up so soon. We should embrace the mess.
My husband and I were very blessed this year. We had family from California, Virginia, and Kentucky here. Gary's son and daughter and their families were all here, as were his sisters, parents, nephew, and his new wife. My parents, sister, brother-in-law, brother, niece, and nephew were also here. However, only one of my daughters, Addison, was here this year. Morgan lives too far away to make the trip twice, and will be here for Christmas instead. Her dad and our daughter Bethany went to Louisiana to spend the holiday with Morgan, Kyle, and Layne. Though I was thrilled with all who were here, I still missed my girls. Our hope is that next year, all of our family will be here.
Gary and I had talked several months ago about doing a Thanksgiving morning run. I have run the past two years, but we wanted to get others to join us. At 7:45 a.m. we loaded up and headed to town. Tamara, Bryce, and Krista joined Gary and me for a run along the Ohio River on our new River Walk. It was a gorgeous morning, the temperature cool and the sky clear. It was the first time Gary and both of his children had run together. Tamara was able to run further than she had been running at home. It was an amazing way to start the day, and to enjoy God's magnificent landscape.
Not having grown up in the country, there are times I think I would still prefer to live in town - until weeks like this past one. Seeing Gary's kids and grandkids enjoying our home is priceless. His son kept a campfire going for three days, and people spent time near it catching up with one another and sharing stories from the past. We could hear their laughter all the way in the house. The kids were enthralled with the four-wheeler, or 'motor' as they called it. Molly loved getting out and exploring along the edge of the woods, all the time hoping to catch a glimpse of wildlife. After our meal, my sister-in-law and her husband took off on the gravel road to work off some of the food, and my sister and I followed, just to enjoy the beautiful day. Bryce, his girlfriend Krista, a nephew, and his wife all spent time splitting wood after dinner. Admittedly, I am somewhat of a wimp, and the thought of true manual labor is not my idea of making holiday memories, but they had a blast. They were making their own memories, and I suspect that they enjoyed every moment of that time.
Bryce and Krista arrived the Saturday before Thanksgiving, but the majority of our company arrived on Wednesday. Thirteen of us shared dinner Wednesday evening. Just as the pilgrims and Indians celebrated for three days, so did the Staths. I will not bore you with a listing of all of the food we consumed; my guess is that your own lists are rather lengthy! I will say that my best estimate is that we ate over 300 cookies Wednesday - Saturday. Really. I had baked about six different kinds, and had them in the freezer. Every time a tray was emptied, more cookies magically appeared. I can't even tell you the favorite because every single one was eaten. Needless to say, I am avoiding the scale today! There is one piece of pumpkin cake left, and one slice of banana bread. Those will be gone by the end of business today, and tomorrow we get back to healthier eating and regular exercise. And I will begin baking more cookies for Christmas!
I am very thankful for the laughter, love, and stories shared over the last week. I am thankful that Gary's family and my family were able to share the holiday together. I am thankful that I have a husband who is an excellent cook and can help out with the cooking (I have never even attempted making a turkey!). I am thankful that Morgan was able to cook her first Thanksgiving meal, and that her dad and sister were there with her. I am very thankful that I did not participate in any of that madness of Black Friday shopping! It just isn't worth it. We chose, instead, to visit the quaint shops in Tell City, which was very relaxing and enjoyable. There was little traffic and no one threatened me with pepper spray!
And now, I am thankful for a quiet day at home.
My husband and I were very blessed this year. We had family from California, Virginia, and Kentucky here. Gary's son and daughter and their families were all here, as were his sisters, parents, nephew, and his new wife. My parents, sister, brother-in-law, brother, niece, and nephew were also here. However, only one of my daughters, Addison, was here this year. Morgan lives too far away to make the trip twice, and will be here for Christmas instead. Her dad and our daughter Bethany went to Louisiana to spend the holiday with Morgan, Kyle, and Layne. Though I was thrilled with all who were here, I still missed my girls. Our hope is that next year, all of our family will be here.
Gary and I had talked several months ago about doing a Thanksgiving morning run. I have run the past two years, but we wanted to get others to join us. At 7:45 a.m. we loaded up and headed to town. Tamara, Bryce, and Krista joined Gary and me for a run along the Ohio River on our new River Walk. It was a gorgeous morning, the temperature cool and the sky clear. It was the first time Gary and both of his children had run together. Tamara was able to run further than she had been running at home. It was an amazing way to start the day, and to enjoy God's magnificent landscape.
Not having grown up in the country, there are times I think I would still prefer to live in town - until weeks like this past one. Seeing Gary's kids and grandkids enjoying our home is priceless. His son kept a campfire going for three days, and people spent time near it catching up with one another and sharing stories from the past. We could hear their laughter all the way in the house. The kids were enthralled with the four-wheeler, or 'motor' as they called it. Molly loved getting out and exploring along the edge of the woods, all the time hoping to catch a glimpse of wildlife. After our meal, my sister-in-law and her husband took off on the gravel road to work off some of the food, and my sister and I followed, just to enjoy the beautiful day. Bryce, his girlfriend Krista, a nephew, and his wife all spent time splitting wood after dinner. Admittedly, I am somewhat of a wimp, and the thought of true manual labor is not my idea of making holiday memories, but they had a blast. They were making their own memories, and I suspect that they enjoyed every moment of that time.
Bryce and Krista arrived the Saturday before Thanksgiving, but the majority of our company arrived on Wednesday. Thirteen of us shared dinner Wednesday evening. Just as the pilgrims and Indians celebrated for three days, so did the Staths. I will not bore you with a listing of all of the food we consumed; my guess is that your own lists are rather lengthy! I will say that my best estimate is that we ate over 300 cookies Wednesday - Saturday. Really. I had baked about six different kinds, and had them in the freezer. Every time a tray was emptied, more cookies magically appeared. I can't even tell you the favorite because every single one was eaten. Needless to say, I am avoiding the scale today! There is one piece of pumpkin cake left, and one slice of banana bread. Those will be gone by the end of business today, and tomorrow we get back to healthier eating and regular exercise. And I will begin baking more cookies for Christmas!
I am very thankful for the laughter, love, and stories shared over the last week. I am thankful that Gary's family and my family were able to share the holiday together. I am thankful that I have a husband who is an excellent cook and can help out with the cooking (I have never even attempted making a turkey!). I am thankful that Morgan was able to cook her first Thanksgiving meal, and that her dad and sister were there with her. I am very thankful that I did not participate in any of that madness of Black Friday shopping! It just isn't worth it. We chose, instead, to visit the quaint shops in Tell City, which was very relaxing and enjoyable. There was little traffic and no one threatened me with pepper spray!
And now, I am thankful for a quiet day at home.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
For this I am Thankful
It's that time of year - the time that we reflect upon our year, give thanks for the good, and look forward to moving further away from that which wasn't so good. I have spent a great deal of time this year thinking about the power of being thankful for what I have. Much of this thought was brought about by a good friend suggesting that we take time to acknowledge our blessings. What a blessing that in itself has been!
Each week, some of my friends and I email one another our gratitude lists. It might sound a bit corny at first glimpse, but believe me when I say, it has made a difference in all of our lives. These people, whom I have considered friends for quite some time, have become even more important, and help me live my life in a positive manner. Through these lists, we have kept up on one another's celebrations and losses. We have been able to show support in the rough patches and offer congratulations for successes. And sometimes our lists just make the others laugh!
As most of you know, I lost my nephew unexpectedly in August. Besides my immediate family, my 'gratitude' group was the first I contacted. I knew they would keep my family in their prayers, and that they truly cared. And they, along with many of my friends, showed up. When another friend lost a close family member, we were certain to be there for her. As I have traveled the path toward getting my book published, my little group has celebrated with me, and listened to me whine. Their support has been invaluable.
Along with sharing my list with my friends, which reminds me that I need to always be thankful, I also keep a journal by my bed, and each night before I go to sleep I write down at least five things for which I am thankful. Imagine the power in this when I was grieving the loss of my nephew. Though I was deeply saddened by my loss and struggled to keep my composure at home, I found things for which I was thankful every day. I was thankful that I was off work so that I could be available for my sister; I was thankful for all of the wonderful people who helped us; I was thankful that my cousin Mike flew in to be with us; and the list goes on. In the midst of our sorrow, God's presence was evident every moment.
I would be lying if I said that every day it is easy to find things to put on my list. I still have my grouchy days when I get frustrated with someone. Sometimes I am just thankful that I held my tongue (which is really hard), so that is what I write down. Some days I am glad I stood up for myself, and some days I am thankful I just ignored someone's pettiness. Sometimes I am thankful for a mean person because it makes me appreciate the nice people in my life. Sometimes I am thankful that I finally decided that negative people have no place in my life. Life is too short to waste time on people who just make me feel bad about myself. I am very thankful I finally figured that out!
The power of gratitude is amazing. Acknowledging - in writing - that which one is thankful for can change his or her outlook on life. It is so easy to get wrapped up in what is wrong in our lives and our world; take the time to search out what is right. It might be the fact that you have the ability to work, enough food, and good health. Everyone's list will differ, and appreciating those differences is also something to be grateful for. I often include gratitude for friend's happiness and success in my list.
Give gratitude a try. Let me know what changes you experience - I would bet that there will be some! You will come to think about being thankful for little things throughout your day, not just when you write your list. So, here is my list for 2011 (a little early, but Thanksgiving is just around the corner)...
I am thankful, Lord...
~ that Gary and I celebrated our 8 year anniversary
~ that my brother-in-law recovered from a heart attack
~ that we got to go to Virginia Beach in June to visit Tamara and family
~ that Bethany successfully began her second year of college
~ that I have been able to be there for my sister as she continues to grieve the loss of her son
~ that my husband ran a marathon - 26.2 stinkin' miles - in April
~ that my hysterectomy was uneventful and I am fully recovered
~ that my body allows me to run
~ for my running friends, school friends, church friends, my girlfriends, and gratitude friends
~ that I started going to Zumba classes - love it!
~ that Facebook has allowed me to get to know some long-lost family members and reconnected me with childhood friends
~ that my book was finally published
~ that my grandson Layne was born healthy, and Morgan is a great mom
~ that I checked another item off my life-goal list - ziplining
~ that Addison is a kind and wise soul, and she is blessed with my dad's musical talent
~ that each day my job allows me to make a difference in the life of a child
See...that was easy! What are you thankful for?
Each week, some of my friends and I email one another our gratitude lists. It might sound a bit corny at first glimpse, but believe me when I say, it has made a difference in all of our lives. These people, whom I have considered friends for quite some time, have become even more important, and help me live my life in a positive manner. Through these lists, we have kept up on one another's celebrations and losses. We have been able to show support in the rough patches and offer congratulations for successes. And sometimes our lists just make the others laugh!
As most of you know, I lost my nephew unexpectedly in August. Besides my immediate family, my 'gratitude' group was the first I contacted. I knew they would keep my family in their prayers, and that they truly cared. And they, along with many of my friends, showed up. When another friend lost a close family member, we were certain to be there for her. As I have traveled the path toward getting my book published, my little group has celebrated with me, and listened to me whine. Their support has been invaluable.
Along with sharing my list with my friends, which reminds me that I need to always be thankful, I also keep a journal by my bed, and each night before I go to sleep I write down at least five things for which I am thankful. Imagine the power in this when I was grieving the loss of my nephew. Though I was deeply saddened by my loss and struggled to keep my composure at home, I found things for which I was thankful every day. I was thankful that I was off work so that I could be available for my sister; I was thankful for all of the wonderful people who helped us; I was thankful that my cousin Mike flew in to be with us; and the list goes on. In the midst of our sorrow, God's presence was evident every moment.
I would be lying if I said that every day it is easy to find things to put on my list. I still have my grouchy days when I get frustrated with someone. Sometimes I am just thankful that I held my tongue (which is really hard), so that is what I write down. Some days I am glad I stood up for myself, and some days I am thankful I just ignored someone's pettiness. Sometimes I am thankful for a mean person because it makes me appreciate the nice people in my life. Sometimes I am thankful that I finally decided that negative people have no place in my life. Life is too short to waste time on people who just make me feel bad about myself. I am very thankful I finally figured that out!
The power of gratitude is amazing. Acknowledging - in writing - that which one is thankful for can change his or her outlook on life. It is so easy to get wrapped up in what is wrong in our lives and our world; take the time to search out what is right. It might be the fact that you have the ability to work, enough food, and good health. Everyone's list will differ, and appreciating those differences is also something to be grateful for. I often include gratitude for friend's happiness and success in my list.
Give gratitude a try. Let me know what changes you experience - I would bet that there will be some! You will come to think about being thankful for little things throughout your day, not just when you write your list. So, here is my list for 2011 (a little early, but Thanksgiving is just around the corner)...
I am thankful, Lord...
~ that Gary and I celebrated our 8 year anniversary
~ that my brother-in-law recovered from a heart attack
~ that we got to go to Virginia Beach in June to visit Tamara and family
~ that Bethany successfully began her second year of college
~ that I have been able to be there for my sister as she continues to grieve the loss of her son
~ that my husband ran a marathon - 26.2 stinkin' miles - in April
~ that my hysterectomy was uneventful and I am fully recovered
~ that my body allows me to run
~ for my running friends, school friends, church friends, my girlfriends, and gratitude friends
~ that I started going to Zumba classes - love it!
~ that Facebook has allowed me to get to know some long-lost family members and reconnected me with childhood friends
~ that my book was finally published
~ that my grandson Layne was born healthy, and Morgan is a great mom
~ that I checked another item off my life-goal list - ziplining
~ that Addison is a kind and wise soul, and she is blessed with my dad's musical talent
~ that each day my job allows me to make a difference in the life of a child
See...that was easy! What are you thankful for?
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
The Publishing of a Book
As most of you are aware, this week my first children's book Dear Daddy becomes available. I will receive my copies tomorrow. I am anxious - and a little apprehensive - to see the final product. I have the digital copy, and the text and illustrations turned out beautiful, but I am not sure what the quality of the actual book will be. I hope that it is of high quality, and that people will be happy to give it as a memorial gift to a family.
The response I have received since announcing the release on Facebook and through email has been amazing! I am thrilled to have the support of my family, friends, and community, but must admit that I do not do well with the attention. I keep getting this knot in my stomach when I think about getting out and marketing my work, but I also realize it is expected and necessary.
Several friends have asked me about the process I went through to get this book published, so this blog will shed some light on that subject.
Many years ago when my daughters were faced with losing someone close, I began to look for books about death to share with them. There were not many available. Many reference the death of a pet to help kids understand death. While I know the writers of these types of books had good intentions, losing a dog or cat in no way compares to losing a family member, especially a parent. Now don't get all upset, Animal-loving friends! I have lost pets, and I know that it can be devastating, but it still doesn't compare. Losing my father when I was seven literally changed the course of my life.
When I went back to college at the age of 33, I discovered I liked to write, and that I wasn't half bad. I had an awesome professor for writing, and though she ripped several of my papers to shreds, she taught me more than any other professor. About midway through the semester, she actually entered one of my papers in a contest - and I won! It wasn't a huge contest, but I won $100, and I gained some confidence. After graduating from Brescia and beginning my first teaching job, I began to think about writing a book about death for children myself. Who better to write such a book than someone who had gone through the death of a parent? That was five years ago (I said it was a long process!).
Once I began writing, the words just spilled out. The emotions I felt when I was seven were still strong, and just thinking back to that day in 1974 brought back the details of that day. I decided to write the book in the form of letters to my dad. While the events of Dad's death are accurate, many details were changed so that the book addressed the five stages of grief that even kids go through (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance). Names were also changed, but the names I used all have significance.
Once the book was written, I began sending it out to children's publishers. And the rejections started arriving. While this was at times very discouraging, I felt passionate about my topic and my book. Over the past five years, I sent it out to different publishers on and off. I put it away for awhile when I was busy with other activities, but then would send a few more copies. A couple of years ago I received a rejection from one lady, but she included a note that said it didn't fit the genres they publish, but that I should send it to another publisher because it was good. This reignited my hope, so I pressed on. I also knew that JK Rowlings first Harry Potter book was rejected 12 times before finally being accepted (can you imagine how those first 12 feel now?), and the first book in the Chicken Soup series was rejected - get this - 150 times! Now I certainly don't expect the success those books saw, but knowing that those great books were rejected over and over gave me the encouragement I needed.
This summer I finally received an email from Renaissance House saying they were interested in my book. Wow. It was not the ideal situation, but it was something. Many publishers pay all publishing costs, and most times even give the author an advance. No such luck for me! Renaissance co-publishes, which means I had to pay a portion of the costs. I had a decision to make. Gary and I talked it over, and I decided that this might be my only shot, and the woman with whom I was working seemed to share my vision. It was an investment in my future. If I could get this book out there, it might be easier to get other books published - and I have other books written! So I signed on the dotted line, and off we went.
One of the benefits of co-publishing is that I felt I had more of a voice in the process. Since I was spending my money, the book was going to be as I envisioned. When the publisher first edited the text and sent it back to me, it was awful. They basically rewrote the book, which bothered me for two reasons. First, they changed some things that had actually happened. Second, it was a major blow to my confidence! The one thing I thought I was fairly good at was writing, and seeing the edited version (that looked as if someone had bled all over it) made me feel like I sucked. I cried; I analyzed; I whined to Gary. I got up at 4:00 in the morning and went back through the book, and then I emailed the publisher and told her that I just could not accept the changes. None of the changes were due to grammatical or spelling errors; they just reworded what I had written. I would not have felt honest if I told everyone I wrote a book, knowing I really just wrote the first draft and someone else rewrote it. In the end, they put it back to the original text with some minor changes I could live with.
Once we agreed on the text, it was time to illustrate. The publisher chooses the illustrator, but I was able to choose between two in-house artists. I chose Don Dyen because his illustrations are soft and realistic. Because I read children's books daily, I know the importance of great illustrations. Many kids who cannot connect with the words can connect with the pictures. I first received Don's sketches, which just showed the scenes he had in mind to go along with the text. Once I approved those, he took the next month to complete the full-color illustrations. I was really nervous about this part. I wanted them to be beautiful and to portray what I felt.
I received the final copy a couple of weeks ago. The email arrived during my lunch at school. At first I didn't open it. This was it - I was going to see my book - MY BOOK! I told my principal that it had arrived, and that I was afraid to open it. She told me to get back to my room and open it. I decided to share the moment with my third graders, and was I glad I did. They knew about the book because I thought it would be great for them to learn about how a book is published first-hand. When we got back to the class, I told them that the final copy had arrived, and that they would be seeing it with me. I also told them I wanted their honest opinion. Believe me, eight-year-olds are honest!
What a moment! The minute they saw the first illustration, they began to applaud! It was an emotional time for me. The kids loved the pictures, so I knew it was good! I have not read the text to them because it is about death, and I just don't feel right reading it to them. I also don't really know if I could read it aloud. It's just too personal. Crazy, isn't it?
I approved the final copy, and it was off to the printer. And here we are today, hopeful that my copies will arrive tomorrow. My goal is to help children see that whatever they are feeling is normal. It is okay to feel angry or to cry. It is okay to question God; He can handle it. I want this book to be a starting point for conversations about death between adults and children.
There are a few people I need to thank, and this is the best forum I can come up with. First of all, I want to thank my husband Gary. He is unbelievably supportive of my dreams, and always encourages my writing. This could not have happened without him. Thank you to my sister, who has always been my biggest cheerleader! To our children - thank your for your support, patience and kind words. I should also thank my girls for your patience when I ignore you because I am into whatever it is I am writing! To my friends who have read my book and given me feedback - Chris, Kim, Loretta, Paul. To my running buddies who have been ultra supportive: Jackie, Kass, Tony, and Jennifer. And, very importantly, to my Southside Christian family and to the Rectors...you all have no idea how much you have meant to our family. You helped us through some difficult times, and stepped up just because you cared. We might have moved south, but you will always be part of our lives.
And that is the journey I have been on. Hopefully it won't take five years to get my next book published! Now call Celebrations and order a book! Or you can wait a few days and order online at http://www.laredopublishing.com/, or a couple weeks and order from Amazon. Yup...you will be able to type my name in Amazon, and something will pop up - how cool is that?
Celebrations is hosting a book signing on November 4 from 5-7 pm. I feel really weird signing books, but it is part of the job.
Thanks to all of you for your support!
The response I have received since announcing the release on Facebook and through email has been amazing! I am thrilled to have the support of my family, friends, and community, but must admit that I do not do well with the attention. I keep getting this knot in my stomach when I think about getting out and marketing my work, but I also realize it is expected and necessary.
Several friends have asked me about the process I went through to get this book published, so this blog will shed some light on that subject.
Many years ago when my daughters were faced with losing someone close, I began to look for books about death to share with them. There were not many available. Many reference the death of a pet to help kids understand death. While I know the writers of these types of books had good intentions, losing a dog or cat in no way compares to losing a family member, especially a parent. Now don't get all upset, Animal-loving friends! I have lost pets, and I know that it can be devastating, but it still doesn't compare. Losing my father when I was seven literally changed the course of my life.
When I went back to college at the age of 33, I discovered I liked to write, and that I wasn't half bad. I had an awesome professor for writing, and though she ripped several of my papers to shreds, she taught me more than any other professor. About midway through the semester, she actually entered one of my papers in a contest - and I won! It wasn't a huge contest, but I won $100, and I gained some confidence. After graduating from Brescia and beginning my first teaching job, I began to think about writing a book about death for children myself. Who better to write such a book than someone who had gone through the death of a parent? That was five years ago (I said it was a long process!).
Once I began writing, the words just spilled out. The emotions I felt when I was seven were still strong, and just thinking back to that day in 1974 brought back the details of that day. I decided to write the book in the form of letters to my dad. While the events of Dad's death are accurate, many details were changed so that the book addressed the five stages of grief that even kids go through (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance). Names were also changed, but the names I used all have significance.
Once the book was written, I began sending it out to children's publishers. And the rejections started arriving. While this was at times very discouraging, I felt passionate about my topic and my book. Over the past five years, I sent it out to different publishers on and off. I put it away for awhile when I was busy with other activities, but then would send a few more copies. A couple of years ago I received a rejection from one lady, but she included a note that said it didn't fit the genres they publish, but that I should send it to another publisher because it was good. This reignited my hope, so I pressed on. I also knew that JK Rowlings first Harry Potter book was rejected 12 times before finally being accepted (can you imagine how those first 12 feel now?), and the first book in the Chicken Soup series was rejected - get this - 150 times! Now I certainly don't expect the success those books saw, but knowing that those great books were rejected over and over gave me the encouragement I needed.
This summer I finally received an email from Renaissance House saying they were interested in my book. Wow. It was not the ideal situation, but it was something. Many publishers pay all publishing costs, and most times even give the author an advance. No such luck for me! Renaissance co-publishes, which means I had to pay a portion of the costs. I had a decision to make. Gary and I talked it over, and I decided that this might be my only shot, and the woman with whom I was working seemed to share my vision. It was an investment in my future. If I could get this book out there, it might be easier to get other books published - and I have other books written! So I signed on the dotted line, and off we went.
One of the benefits of co-publishing is that I felt I had more of a voice in the process. Since I was spending my money, the book was going to be as I envisioned. When the publisher first edited the text and sent it back to me, it was awful. They basically rewrote the book, which bothered me for two reasons. First, they changed some things that had actually happened. Second, it was a major blow to my confidence! The one thing I thought I was fairly good at was writing, and seeing the edited version (that looked as if someone had bled all over it) made me feel like I sucked. I cried; I analyzed; I whined to Gary. I got up at 4:00 in the morning and went back through the book, and then I emailed the publisher and told her that I just could not accept the changes. None of the changes were due to grammatical or spelling errors; they just reworded what I had written. I would not have felt honest if I told everyone I wrote a book, knowing I really just wrote the first draft and someone else rewrote it. In the end, they put it back to the original text with some minor changes I could live with.
Once we agreed on the text, it was time to illustrate. The publisher chooses the illustrator, but I was able to choose between two in-house artists. I chose Don Dyen because his illustrations are soft and realistic. Because I read children's books daily, I know the importance of great illustrations. Many kids who cannot connect with the words can connect with the pictures. I first received Don's sketches, which just showed the scenes he had in mind to go along with the text. Once I approved those, he took the next month to complete the full-color illustrations. I was really nervous about this part. I wanted them to be beautiful and to portray what I felt.
I received the final copy a couple of weeks ago. The email arrived during my lunch at school. At first I didn't open it. This was it - I was going to see my book - MY BOOK! I told my principal that it had arrived, and that I was afraid to open it. She told me to get back to my room and open it. I decided to share the moment with my third graders, and was I glad I did. They knew about the book because I thought it would be great for them to learn about how a book is published first-hand. When we got back to the class, I told them that the final copy had arrived, and that they would be seeing it with me. I also told them I wanted their honest opinion. Believe me, eight-year-olds are honest!
What a moment! The minute they saw the first illustration, they began to applaud! It was an emotional time for me. The kids loved the pictures, so I knew it was good! I have not read the text to them because it is about death, and I just don't feel right reading it to them. I also don't really know if I could read it aloud. It's just too personal. Crazy, isn't it?
I approved the final copy, and it was off to the printer. And here we are today, hopeful that my copies will arrive tomorrow. My goal is to help children see that whatever they are feeling is normal. It is okay to feel angry or to cry. It is okay to question God; He can handle it. I want this book to be a starting point for conversations about death between adults and children.
There are a few people I need to thank, and this is the best forum I can come up with. First of all, I want to thank my husband Gary. He is unbelievably supportive of my dreams, and always encourages my writing. This could not have happened without him. Thank you to my sister, who has always been my biggest cheerleader! To our children - thank your for your support, patience and kind words. I should also thank my girls for your patience when I ignore you because I am into whatever it is I am writing! To my friends who have read my book and given me feedback - Chris, Kim, Loretta, Paul. To my running buddies who have been ultra supportive: Jackie, Kass, Tony, and Jennifer. And, very importantly, to my Southside Christian family and to the Rectors...you all have no idea how much you have meant to our family. You helped us through some difficult times, and stepped up just because you cared. We might have moved south, but you will always be part of our lives.
And that is the journey I have been on. Hopefully it won't take five years to get my next book published! Now call Celebrations and order a book! Or you can wait a few days and order online at http://www.laredopublishing.com/, or a couple weeks and order from Amazon. Yup...you will be able to type my name in Amazon, and something will pop up - how cool is that?
Celebrations is hosting a book signing on November 4 from 5-7 pm. I feel really weird signing books, but it is part of the job.
Thanks to all of you for your support!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
I am in Love!
Who knew? I took a little road trip to Louisiana last Saturday, and upon arrival, I met the most handsome guy. He doesn't have much hair; he has really long toes; and he has mysterious dark gray eyes. His touch just melts my heart. When I look into his eyes, all is right with the world. That, my friends, is love!
My grandson, Layne, was born on Thursday, October 6 to my oldest daughter, Morgan. As soon as I knew the date of his impending arrival, I booked a flight to Louisiana so that I could enjoy his first week of life with his parents. What an amazing blessing! As I type this blog, he lies beside me, squirming around in his sleep when I don't have a hand on him. Clearly, he is also in love with his nana! This relationship is meant to be - I just know it!
Nana. Grandma. Grandmother. Granny. Mamaw. Whichever endearing term one chooses, there are normally connotations of a gray-haired-cookie-baking-smother-them-with-kisses-sweet old lady. Not this nana. The gray hair is carefully hidden beneath Wella Colorcharm in light brown. I am an awesome cookie baker, and I will smother this little guy with kisses. However, 'sweet' has never really been a term associated with me (I can admit this), and I am not old. Not even close. This nana got up this morning and went out for a four-mile run. This nana will continue to train for half marathons and attend Zumba classes. This nana will keep up with her grandson.
As I have entered this new chapter in my life, I have thought back to time spent with my own grandmothers. I loved spending time with both of them, but had more time with my Grandma Allen, my mother's mother. I spent many nights at her house. She would pop popcorn on the stove (which developed quite an addiction for me), and slightly burn a few kernals. She made me grilled cheese (which was also slightly burnt), fried chicken, and every Allen grandchild's favorite, eclairs. I have fond memories of playing with the thread spools she had saved and building structures with her greeting cards. My favorite Grandma Allen memory is the time she took my cousin Marcia and me to a farm in Kentucky to spend a week. I was about nine, and Marcia was about ten. We built a treehouse, and explored the old attic, amazed by all of the salt and pepper shakers Grandma's niece had collected. We romped all over that farm; for two city girls, that was quite a vacation.
Though I did not get to spend quite as much time with my Grandma Greenland, I still have fond memories of her. She was the most awesome cook! I remember spending the night with her, and as she baked pies for Sunday dinner, she would let me make my own little pies in pot pie tins. And then there was the butterscotch pie. Oh my. It was the most amazing pie I have ever eaten. And when Grandma died, so died the recipe. I have had other perfectly good butterscotch pies, but nothing like Grandma's. I also remember Grandma Greenland putting on her old skirted blue swimsuit and flowered swim cap, and doing the side-stroke at the city pool. Now that's a grandma memory! Most importantly, I remember being in awe of my Grandma Greenland's pure strength of character. All three of her sons predeceased her, yet she continued to live her life to the fullest. What an amazing witness to God's power to help us through life's trials.
I want to create beautiful memories with Layne. What will he remember about me when he is a man? I don't think it will be my cooking - although I can bake some pretty awesome eclairs just like Grandma Allen. Will he look forward to visiting his Nana when his dad is on leave from the Army? I don't think will remember only the big things like trips to the zoo or Disneyworld; I think it will be the little things like making cookies together and eating popcorn. He will treasure the times we walk in the woods and ride the 4-wheeler. He will love going for a run with me (I can hope, can't I?). He will remember my spending time just being with him. Yup. This little fella is gonna love his nana! This nana is definitely in love with him!
My grandson, Layne, was born on Thursday, October 6 to my oldest daughter, Morgan. As soon as I knew the date of his impending arrival, I booked a flight to Louisiana so that I could enjoy his first week of life with his parents. What an amazing blessing! As I type this blog, he lies beside me, squirming around in his sleep when I don't have a hand on him. Clearly, he is also in love with his nana! This relationship is meant to be - I just know it!
Nana. Grandma. Grandmother. Granny. Mamaw. Whichever endearing term one chooses, there are normally connotations of a gray-haired-cookie-baking-smother-them-with-kisses-sweet old lady. Not this nana. The gray hair is carefully hidden beneath Wella Colorcharm in light brown. I am an awesome cookie baker, and I will smother this little guy with kisses. However, 'sweet' has never really been a term associated with me (I can admit this), and I am not old. Not even close. This nana got up this morning and went out for a four-mile run. This nana will continue to train for half marathons and attend Zumba classes. This nana will keep up with her grandson.
As I have entered this new chapter in my life, I have thought back to time spent with my own grandmothers. I loved spending time with both of them, but had more time with my Grandma Allen, my mother's mother. I spent many nights at her house. She would pop popcorn on the stove (which developed quite an addiction for me), and slightly burn a few kernals. She made me grilled cheese (which was also slightly burnt), fried chicken, and every Allen grandchild's favorite, eclairs. I have fond memories of playing with the thread spools she had saved and building structures with her greeting cards. My favorite Grandma Allen memory is the time she took my cousin Marcia and me to a farm in Kentucky to spend a week. I was about nine, and Marcia was about ten. We built a treehouse, and explored the old attic, amazed by all of the salt and pepper shakers Grandma's niece had collected. We romped all over that farm; for two city girls, that was quite a vacation.
Though I did not get to spend quite as much time with my Grandma Greenland, I still have fond memories of her. She was the most awesome cook! I remember spending the night with her, and as she baked pies for Sunday dinner, she would let me make my own little pies in pot pie tins. And then there was the butterscotch pie. Oh my. It was the most amazing pie I have ever eaten. And when Grandma died, so died the recipe. I have had other perfectly good butterscotch pies, but nothing like Grandma's. I also remember Grandma Greenland putting on her old skirted blue swimsuit and flowered swim cap, and doing the side-stroke at the city pool. Now that's a grandma memory! Most importantly, I remember being in awe of my Grandma Greenland's pure strength of character. All three of her sons predeceased her, yet she continued to live her life to the fullest. What an amazing witness to God's power to help us through life's trials.
I want to create beautiful memories with Layne. What will he remember about me when he is a man? I don't think it will be my cooking - although I can bake some pretty awesome eclairs just like Grandma Allen. Will he look forward to visiting his Nana when his dad is on leave from the Army? I don't think will remember only the big things like trips to the zoo or Disneyworld; I think it will be the little things like making cookies together and eating popcorn. He will treasure the times we walk in the woods and ride the 4-wheeler. He will love going for a run with me (I can hope, can't I?). He will remember my spending time just being with him. Yup. This little fella is gonna love his nana! This nana is definitely in love with him!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Other Reasons to Run
Sometimes running has nothing at all to do with...well, running. Sometimes it is about having some time alone; sometimes it's about working through stress; sometimes it's about chick time. The past three weeks my running has been about grieving. In the past couple of years, anytime I am stressed or upset, I have been able to turn to running to help me cope. I realized just how much running helps my mental state when my nephew, Stephen, died.
One never forgets receiving life-altering news, or the manner in which it was presented. On the morning of August 8, as I was working to get my classroom in order, I received one such call from my sister. She had just received her life-changing call from a coroner. Her 26 year old son had died. We didn't know how; he was simply gone. To make the situation worse, Stephen had actually died on Sunday morning, and his mother was not notified until Monday morning. Excuses were made, but in the end, the coroner's office messed up.
My initial reaction was disbelief, but I immediately took off to meet my sister at her house. I just kept thinking I don't know what to do. What do I do? When my sister arrived, we were both in shock. We truly had no idea where to begin. Once we began to face reality, we made the necessary phone calls, began to make decisions, and we cried. We worked through the day, each of us in a daze. We had to go to our mother's to tell her, and then my daughters and I stayed with her for awhile.
Once I was back in Tell City, I waited for Erin, Stephen's sister, to arrive from Indianapolis. We spent some time talking and getting pictures of Stephen, and then we decided to do the one thing that wouldn't let us down - we ran. We ran hard. Erin, with her youth and strong legs, is always much faster than I, and that day was no different, but I pushed hard to keep up. We were both filled with sadness, frustration, and anger. So we ran. We ran because we didn't know what else to do. We ran because we could. We ran instead of kicking and screaming.
Erin and I ran a couple more times that week. It was something that was familiar, something that gave us a few moments of normalcy and peace. It also gave us time to talk, although Erin's version might be that it gave her aunt time to lecture! I treasure any time that I have with my nieces and nephews, but those particular runs with Erin, though difficult, were priceless. I hope that someday she looks back and feels the same.
Since Erin has returned to Indy, I have continued my runs. Sometimes I run with my friends, and it gives me time to talk about what our family has gone through. My friends, too, are priceless. They listen, they care, and they love. My solo runs are spent processing the past couple of weeks. As awful as they have been, I have taken away some life lessons. My sister and I believe that those lowest moments in our lives are times that we learn and grow, and in the process become better people.
My sister is amazing. She has always been one of the most important people in my life. She is my confidant, my sounding board, and my cheerleader. As I have listened to her as she has grieved the loss of her son, I have been overwhelmed with pride and pure love. Though she has lost her boy, she has continued to comfort others, help people who need it, and show her appreciation for every little thing someone does for her. I have always told people that she is the kindest person I know, and that our personalities are nothing alike (yes, I can admit that!), but I am still in awe of the grace she has shown. She is an incredible mother, wife, friend, and, of course, sister. I have prayed a lot the past few weeks, and my prayer is always very simple: God, give me strength and knowledge to help my sister through this loss. And Please, bless her and my nieces. I believe that those prayers have been answered; I have been able to hold myself together when necessary, and then let go when I am home.
As I have run, I have also thought about all of the good people in our lives. Our family has been truly blessed by our extended family, neighbors, and friends. The food, cards, flowers, gifts, kind words, prayers, and hugs were all appreciated. We have lived in an urban area, and in a small town. There is no doubt that when a family is faced with a crisis, people in a small town step up and show up. We were overwhelmed by all of the friends who came to Stephen's funeral, or just let us know that they cared in some way. I think that I often focus on the negatives of life in a small town, but going through this has given me a new appreciation for my small-town life.
Honestly, if I didn't have running as an outlet the past weeks, I don't know how I could have dealt with all that I was feeling. My runs gave me time to vent, to cry, to hurt. I also don't know what we would have done without our faith. When my father died when we were kids, it was our church and our faith that pulled us through. I trust that our faith will not let us down. Do we have some questions for God? Absolutely. That's okay. I still believe in God's power and grace. And I know that Stephen is in Heaven entertaining his grandfather, and probably telling Jesus some good jokes! Maybe he will ask God to make his old aunt just a little faster.
We don't know what tomorrow will bring, so get out and live. Don't put things off. Tell people you love them. Learn something new. And run...it does a body good!
One never forgets receiving life-altering news, or the manner in which it was presented. On the morning of August 8, as I was working to get my classroom in order, I received one such call from my sister. She had just received her life-changing call from a coroner. Her 26 year old son had died. We didn't know how; he was simply gone. To make the situation worse, Stephen had actually died on Sunday morning, and his mother was not notified until Monday morning. Excuses were made, but in the end, the coroner's office messed up.
My initial reaction was disbelief, but I immediately took off to meet my sister at her house. I just kept thinking I don't know what to do. What do I do? When my sister arrived, we were both in shock. We truly had no idea where to begin. Once we began to face reality, we made the necessary phone calls, began to make decisions, and we cried. We worked through the day, each of us in a daze. We had to go to our mother's to tell her, and then my daughters and I stayed with her for awhile.
Once I was back in Tell City, I waited for Erin, Stephen's sister, to arrive from Indianapolis. We spent some time talking and getting pictures of Stephen, and then we decided to do the one thing that wouldn't let us down - we ran. We ran hard. Erin, with her youth and strong legs, is always much faster than I, and that day was no different, but I pushed hard to keep up. We were both filled with sadness, frustration, and anger. So we ran. We ran because we didn't know what else to do. We ran because we could. We ran instead of kicking and screaming.
Erin and I ran a couple more times that week. It was something that was familiar, something that gave us a few moments of normalcy and peace. It also gave us time to talk, although Erin's version might be that it gave her aunt time to lecture! I treasure any time that I have with my nieces and nephews, but those particular runs with Erin, though difficult, were priceless. I hope that someday she looks back and feels the same.
Since Erin has returned to Indy, I have continued my runs. Sometimes I run with my friends, and it gives me time to talk about what our family has gone through. My friends, too, are priceless. They listen, they care, and they love. My solo runs are spent processing the past couple of weeks. As awful as they have been, I have taken away some life lessons. My sister and I believe that those lowest moments in our lives are times that we learn and grow, and in the process become better people.
My sister is amazing. She has always been one of the most important people in my life. She is my confidant, my sounding board, and my cheerleader. As I have listened to her as she has grieved the loss of her son, I have been overwhelmed with pride and pure love. Though she has lost her boy, she has continued to comfort others, help people who need it, and show her appreciation for every little thing someone does for her. I have always told people that she is the kindest person I know, and that our personalities are nothing alike (yes, I can admit that!), but I am still in awe of the grace she has shown. She is an incredible mother, wife, friend, and, of course, sister. I have prayed a lot the past few weeks, and my prayer is always very simple: God, give me strength and knowledge to help my sister through this loss. And Please, bless her and my nieces. I believe that those prayers have been answered; I have been able to hold myself together when necessary, and then let go when I am home.
As I have run, I have also thought about all of the good people in our lives. Our family has been truly blessed by our extended family, neighbors, and friends. The food, cards, flowers, gifts, kind words, prayers, and hugs were all appreciated. We have lived in an urban area, and in a small town. There is no doubt that when a family is faced with a crisis, people in a small town step up and show up. We were overwhelmed by all of the friends who came to Stephen's funeral, or just let us know that they cared in some way. I think that I often focus on the negatives of life in a small town, but going through this has given me a new appreciation for my small-town life.
Honestly, if I didn't have running as an outlet the past weeks, I don't know how I could have dealt with all that I was feeling. My runs gave me time to vent, to cry, to hurt. I also don't know what we would have done without our faith. When my father died when we were kids, it was our church and our faith that pulled us through. I trust that our faith will not let us down. Do we have some questions for God? Absolutely. That's okay. I still believe in God's power and grace. And I know that Stephen is in Heaven entertaining his grandfather, and probably telling Jesus some good jokes! Maybe he will ask God to make his old aunt just a little faster.
We don't know what tomorrow will bring, so get out and live. Don't put things off. Tell people you love them. Learn something new. And run...it does a body good!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Are You Really Going to Run in this Heat?
Although it is awfully difficult to get out the door when there are heat advisories out, I usually know that I won't regret at least getting a few miles in. This week the heat is just miserable. Jackie and I ran Saturday morning. We didn't run as far as we would have liked, but it was so humid that breathing was work. We ran 4.2 miles, and walked a mile. We are on our feet for over 5 miles, which was good enough for us.
Sunday evening, Gary and I had friends over for seafood. He was thrilled to be able to cook some new recipes (which were really quite impressive), and to have people here who would appreciate his efforts. The girls and I are extremely picky, and rarely try new foods. As we always do when having guests, we made too much. I can never make just one dessert; there has to be a choice. We also wanted to have a nice selection of sides, so we had plenty of food to last a couple of days. And we have been overeating. A lot. I needed to get out and exercise!
I had science training in Evansville Monday and Tuesday. Because I slept very little Sunday night, I was exhausted by the time I got home Monday. I knew that I should get out and do something, but instead I only ventured away from the couch when I needed more cake, or had to go to the bathroom. I felt like a stuffed toad.
After training on Tuesday, I was determined to exercise. It was so hot, and I had just about talked myself into just running a couple miles on the treadmill, and doing TurboJam. I hate the treadmill. Gary had to go into town to run some errands, so I decided to just ride in with him, and try to run at the track. That way I could keep a large bottle of water there, and I didn't have to worry about getting back to the track should the heat overtake my body. Since my only objective was exercise and burning off some of the cake I had consumed, I alternated between running and walking so that my body could 'cool' off ocassionally. I ran a mile, walked a lap, ran a mile, walked two laps, ran another mile. It really worked out well. I was hot and sweaty, but I wasn't miserable. I really felt great when Gary came to pick me up.
Once home, I knew that I also needed some strength and ab work. Gary bought me a kettle ball over the weekend. In my quest to get Michelle Obama arms, I thought that this apparatus might be helpful. It is a 12-pound kettle, which I thought was good for me. Addison let me know that it was really light. Not for me. I am pretty weak, and 12 pounds is just fine. So I did some exercises with that, and then did my trusty weighted hoola hoop to work on abs. I like using the hoola hoop because I can watch TV while swiveling, so I don't get bored.
My friends Kassi, Tracey, and I went to a Zumba class last week, and we plan to go back. It is really a fun way to burn some calories. What I really enjoy is that it doesn't matter if I don't know what I am doing; everyone is so worried about learning the moves that no one really even looks around. Though I love running, it is also nice to have an alternative. This morning the Today Show had a piece on Zumba Gold, which is for people over 50. There were seniors in their 80s and 90s doing Zumba! It was great. They looked like they were having so much fun, kind of reliving their younger years when they danced the weekends away. I want to be 90 and doing Zumba - well, not right now, but eventually!
My goal for the remainder of the summer is to just stay in shape. I don't intend to improve my speed or endurance; it is just too hot for that. As of today, I don't plan to run any races, including Schweizer Fest. I could change my mind, but it just isn't much fun when the heat is so unbearable. I am glad that I have some options for exercise. I can attempt the great outdoors if I feel so inclined, or I can do Zumba, use our equipment, or use my TurboJam, Yoga, or Brazil Butt Lift DVD. Yup, you read that last one right. I bought that a year ago, but haven't really done it (obviously); I found it to be a little too hard. I haven't given it away yet because I would still like to be able to do at least part of the workouts. Those darned infomercials!
Stay cool, Friends! In no time we will be complaining because it is so cold!
Sunday evening, Gary and I had friends over for seafood. He was thrilled to be able to cook some new recipes (which were really quite impressive), and to have people here who would appreciate his efforts. The girls and I are extremely picky, and rarely try new foods. As we always do when having guests, we made too much. I can never make just one dessert; there has to be a choice. We also wanted to have a nice selection of sides, so we had plenty of food to last a couple of days. And we have been overeating. A lot. I needed to get out and exercise!
I had science training in Evansville Monday and Tuesday. Because I slept very little Sunday night, I was exhausted by the time I got home Monday. I knew that I should get out and do something, but instead I only ventured away from the couch when I needed more cake, or had to go to the bathroom. I felt like a stuffed toad.
After training on Tuesday, I was determined to exercise. It was so hot, and I had just about talked myself into just running a couple miles on the treadmill, and doing TurboJam. I hate the treadmill. Gary had to go into town to run some errands, so I decided to just ride in with him, and try to run at the track. That way I could keep a large bottle of water there, and I didn't have to worry about getting back to the track should the heat overtake my body. Since my only objective was exercise and burning off some of the cake I had consumed, I alternated between running and walking so that my body could 'cool' off ocassionally. I ran a mile, walked a lap, ran a mile, walked two laps, ran another mile. It really worked out well. I was hot and sweaty, but I wasn't miserable. I really felt great when Gary came to pick me up.
Once home, I knew that I also needed some strength and ab work. Gary bought me a kettle ball over the weekend. In my quest to get Michelle Obama arms, I thought that this apparatus might be helpful. It is a 12-pound kettle, which I thought was good for me. Addison let me know that it was really light. Not for me. I am pretty weak, and 12 pounds is just fine. So I did some exercises with that, and then did my trusty weighted hoola hoop to work on abs. I like using the hoola hoop because I can watch TV while swiveling, so I don't get bored.
My friends Kassi, Tracey, and I went to a Zumba class last week, and we plan to go back. It is really a fun way to burn some calories. What I really enjoy is that it doesn't matter if I don't know what I am doing; everyone is so worried about learning the moves that no one really even looks around. Though I love running, it is also nice to have an alternative. This morning the Today Show had a piece on Zumba Gold, which is for people over 50. There were seniors in their 80s and 90s doing Zumba! It was great. They looked like they were having so much fun, kind of reliving their younger years when they danced the weekends away. I want to be 90 and doing Zumba - well, not right now, but eventually!
My goal for the remainder of the summer is to just stay in shape. I don't intend to improve my speed or endurance; it is just too hot for that. As of today, I don't plan to run any races, including Schweizer Fest. I could change my mind, but it just isn't much fun when the heat is so unbearable. I am glad that I have some options for exercise. I can attempt the great outdoors if I feel so inclined, or I can do Zumba, use our equipment, or use my TurboJam, Yoga, or Brazil Butt Lift DVD. Yup, you read that last one right. I bought that a year ago, but haven't really done it (obviously); I found it to be a little too hard. I haven't given it away yet because I would still like to be able to do at least part of the workouts. Those darned infomercials!
Stay cool, Friends! In no time we will be complaining because it is so cold!
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