Okay, I’m officially shock proof these days.  Seriously, I’ve been thinking about the bus-sized space object that will be crashing to earth late Feb, early March.  A little embarrassing, I imagine, by the powers that be.  They have no clue where it’s going to land, and probably no clue what they’re going to do when it does enter our atmosphere.  And since it’s a spy satellite, my guess is they’re more concerned about lost data than well…it hitting Miss Haney’s car, or Papaw Riley’s pickup.  Yep, we’ve come to this, folks!

We have a large percentage of water on this planet, and there’s the desert.  Of course, there’s also the areas we’ve been surveilling.  It might drop there, and they could take care of the problem.  Of course, that would prove our fingers were in the cookie jar.  Boggles the mind.  When I think of the garbage we bury underground, and the NASA debris we leave behind on each mission, I’d say we have a major litter problem.  Looks like some of it plans on coming home to roost…in a big way.

Love to hear your thoughts on this one!  

Everyone has at least one thing they put under the heading, One Day.  Not necessarily in relation to career, but something they envision on the horizon as possible.  My one day is a beach house.  I love the beach.  I love the incredible peacefulness, the amazing sunsets, and the beauty I carry home in my heart.  Salty air is magical and healing, I believe.

I enjoy reading books that have beach settings, and movies that take me there.  We vacation in FL every year, and the gulf is a perfect setting.  One of my daughters took a family vacation in Maryland last year.  While she had a lovely time and it was pretty, the water was much cooler and rougher, and the sand was not pearl white but tan. 

So, in the spirit of dreams, I’ll settle for my yearly trip to the gulf, and bring home beautiful memories, golden skin, and a refreshed spirit.  And I’m always on the lookout for a beautiful place to dream my beach house.

I’d love to hear about your One Day…….

Before I get into my blog, I want to let you know we started interviewing debut authors at Magical Musings.  If you’ve missed those, you can click on the debut interviews over there.  It’s something new we’ve included, and the next one is scheduled this coming Friday with debut author, Gina Robinson.  Her call story is well worth stopping by for.  Actually, it segues into my topic perfectly.  She subbed for 12 years before getting the Call.  Now, to my blog…

I love anything that inspires.   I have a collection of books, tapes, and movies that focus on this theme.  A key element of each manages to fuel energy inside me, and spills into my work and life.  Good friends definitely fall into this category too.  That’s why I do self-checks.  Like a tune-up on your car, and I definitely baby my jeep like that.   

I question things.  I also have a voracious appetite for the mysteries out there, and each thread I follow gives me an insight, which leads to something more.  I never want to stop questioning, nor discovering.  Maybe writers do this more, I really have no clue.  All I know is I always ask, because if you don’t you won’t know.  You might not hear or read the truth all the time, but at least you can explore and hopefully find truth.

I’m going to list a couple of Pearl reads today.  Thought it was time to add another Pearl mini list. 

One of the first books I read conveying the power of emotions was Lynn Grabhorn’s, EXCUSE ME YOUR LIFE IS WAITING.  I’ve read many book since, but I remember this propelling more discovery. There are fantastic books on this subject. 

HIRING THE HEAVENS, by Jean Slatter was brought to my attention by Nancy Haddock.  She shared it on one of my writing loops, and it’s a treasure.  Many of my friends have bought it too.  It’s about becoming a co-creator in your life.  It’s a small book, but powerful.

Anything Anthony Robbins.  He’s one of the best motivators, life-changing coaches I believe.  I’ve listened to many of his tapes over the years, and he’s the master of motivation.  His enthusiasm spills off the pages, and if you’re listening to CD’s you hear it in his voice.

I love sharing with people, and anything that impacts my life may help someone else.  Take what you can use, and toss the rest.  Any pearls you’d like to share, a book, tapes, an experience?  Thoughts on what motivates you?

  

Today is my day to blog at Magical Musings.  I’m blogging about our Book Children with a twist.  My favorites on my homepage wasn’t working properly last night.  One of my Magical partners, Edie, saved the day by sending me a pic from our favorite photo shop.  She picked Cinderella and well… the rest is history.  

My oldest daughter, bless her heart, downloaded some of my conference tapes on my Ipod last night for me.  I’m totally tech-challenged, and it’s because of her I found the way to cyberspace at all.  Seriously, it’s a family joke around here.  My grandkids click computer keys, and one isn’t even in school yet.  Okay enough said, I know you get the picture. 

The one I listened to last night was The Nora’s spotlight.  I love that gal, I gotta tell ya.  She tells it like it is, and makes no excuses.  The Q&A was rife with typical questions about what her days were like, process, any writing books she could recommend, how did she work, etc.  I know their curiosity, heck I’ve been in her audience before and wondered the same things.  I believed once if you actually shook her hand, magic dust will glow there, maybe linger for hours.  Okay, I love her spirit and prolific-ness, (not sure that’s a word) and total focus.  It inspires me.

What I’ve learned on my writing journey is to stay true to my process.  It’s personal for everyone, there’s no set rules, and do whatever works for you.  I’m a seat-of-the-pants gal, and that’s what works for me.  I work with characters that come to me, I hear them, and listen to what they’re saying.  I follow them into the story, and they use me to draw emotions, etc.  It’s unexplainable really, but music to my soul.  Writers know this.

Makes me think of one of the first conferences I ever attended.  I was so excited, carrying that little bag of goodies around, and marking my workshops like a pro.  I attended a plotting one, and walked out like someone had pulled my air plug.  I was told that a writer plots, gets the big picture first, then one may begin.  Ah, what?  When I got home, I tried plotting like this published gal.  I got stuck in my story, my brain froze up, and it took me two weeks to say, “Enough already!”  I went back to flying by-the-seat of my pants and was happy again.  Now, with a few conferences under my belt, I realize this was a workshop for plotters, about plotting, and full of plottness.     I don’t attend those anymore since they so don’t apply to my process.  The speaker was great for plotters I’m sure, just the wrong workshop for me.

I’m curious, have you ever been told you’re doing it wrong?  What’s your process, I’d love to hear!

My editor, Margaret Esch, with be guest blogging at Magical Musings this Saturday the 12th.  Magical Musings is a blog I share with four other writers, and January is our editor month.  We have agents lined up for February.  I hope you join us there!

On a note, there’s a link to Magical as well as Write Attitude on my site.  I’m proud to be a part of these two websites, and hope you visit often. 

While having coffee this morning, I scanned the news which sometimes can be a major mistake.  My best routine is to put the coffee on, and head for my office.  Regardless, a story caught my eye and put a brighter lens on my perspective.  And that’s always a great day IMO.

A soilder in Iraq left a goodbye blog in the event of his death.  He was a Major in the army.  His last wishes were that no one use his name in a political, non-political way.  And I respect that deeply.  What impressed me was his attitude. He said something to the effect, if we were reading this he was dead and we were not, so to take a moment of gratitude in that.

Wow!  We can live well, or not, our choice.  I’ve always believed this more strongly as I delve into this wonderful time of my life.  By the time you reach your late forties, or early fifties let’s hope you’ve accumulated some life lessons.  The bad news is that if you butt your head against a particular one, you’ll find yourself going in circles until you acknowledge the lesson and move on.  Life can be tough, but it’s also amazing and wonderful. 

So in the spirit of life, let’s vow to do our best in our personal lives and careers.  Live our truth, and stay the course.  Embrace moments, and focus on our journey.  No one’s journey will be exactly like yours.  There’s a lotta life to live, and I don’t want to waste a second of it! So, what was your last AH moment!  The friends who visit my blog are special to me, and I learn so much from all of you. And I want to take a moment to thank you.