I'm Almost There...

As many of you know I am in the final stages of publishing my novel.  It has been a very long process from start to finish, but very enjoyable! Writing has been a passion that I have developed during the past few years. I have gotten to know the characters in my novel, as if they were real people.  Right now my novel is in final edits.  I can't give an exact estimate of how long this will take, but hopefully sooner than later than I can share it with all of you.

I am very excited to share this edgy, contemporary work of fiction with all of you! 
Redemption, Forgiveness, Friendship, and Learning How to Love..begin
 at St. Agnes' Place.  I can't wait to welcome you in!

"The Wall"

I just found myself feeling like I was back in highschool, flashbacks raced through my mind from highschool of the loud chatter I heard coming from the of the back of the senior lounge. The banter and laughter filled the air from the exclusive table from only which the "popular people" gathered known as "The Wall".  I never was privy to that table and sat which seemed like miles away with my "nice girlfriends," at a table made for four.

I often found myself making curious glances to that sacred spot, not envious in anyway, most of them I would probably think twice of saving from a burning building.  But, I often wondered if they thought everyone else gathered in the room was less than them.  I think they did.  Seeing the garnet and gold warrior symbol above the wall and feeling that I just wasn't good enough was my first hard lesson in the chain of hierarchy that I thought would banish after highschool.  How wrong I was......As a confident, out-spoken almost 40 year old I realize "The Wall" still exists.  I can still enter a large room, and know matter right or wrong certain people still hold the cards.  There is still the popular and unpopular and sadly this has little to do with character.

I remind myself daily in order to save my sanity, that all that really matters in life is who shares your table at the end of the day whether it be your spouse, children, parents, friend, or a person in need.  I always make it a point that everyone feels welcomed to join me at my table.

"If you were to discover that your closest friend was a heroin dealer, what would you do?"

Hello everyone! Happy Noreaster!  If you are smart enough to call into work today, you are probably sitting around in your cozy jammies looking outside your window at the beautiful, but annoying snow.

Every week I promised to post a thought provoking question from the book, "The Book of Questions."  I love these questions!!  They really make you go, "Uummmmm".......Plus, it gives me a reason to write! And,,,I love to write!  So here goes, and I really hope you post your response on my blog.  It is a lot of fun to see everyone's different point of view.  If you were to discover that your closest friend was a heroin dealer, what would you do?

What Do You Most Strive For In Your Life: Accomplishment, Security, Love, Power, Knowledge, or Something Else?

It's Totally Truthful, Tell It Like It Is Tuesday.  Today I am overwhelmed with laundry, and putting away the last of the Christmas decorations.  Someday, I will definitely be one of those old people who just wants to decorate with a small, fake ceramic Christmas tree.  Heck, I want to do it now, but with the new Charlie Brown tree's that I see in the stores. I think a tree like that is adorable.

~~So for today, while I go about my household chores I will reflect upon this question,
"What do I most strive for in life: accomplishment, security, love, power, excitement, knowledge, or something else?"

Let me know what your thoughts are!  I bet no two answers with be alike with this question.  Ummmm!

Totally Truthful, Tell It Like It is Tuesday.....

Now that the holidays are over and I have finally beaten this horrible stomach virus that ravaged all of my family; I am going to dive headfirst into my writing.  I completed writing the book I started last January.  All twenty-three chapters of it are being sent this week for edits.  While that book is being edited, and after my boys return to school I will be start working on my next book. But for now I am excited just to read other people's work.  I have a coffee table full of books that I can't wait to delve into.  But there is one conversation-coffee table book I truly love that Jamie bought me for Christmas, it's called the, "Book of Questions."  It contains thought provoking questions that have no right or wrong answers.  So to keep my blog going I am going to post a question every Tuesday.  I will answer the question honestly, and it really would be a lot of fun to see how everyone responds.  Some questions will be more difficult than others to answer. So come on and play don't be shy, just truthful and  post your comments at the bottom.  Here is the very first question.
~~~Someone you love deeply is brutally murdered and you know the identity of the murderer, who unfortunately is acquitted of the crime.  Would you seek revenge?

Age is Only A Number....Just a Number You Don't Want to Hear!

Tomorrow my husband the man I met and fell in love with at 16 years of age is turning 40.  OH, MY GOD 40.......It all seems crazy to me, and probably more so to him seeing he is the one turning it, and I'm holding on to 38.95.  I remember how we used to talk about growing old together, well we are actually doing it. 

The thirties they seemed to fly by in the wink of an eye. I still remember on my thirtieth birthday my mom telling me that my thirties would be the best years of my life.  She was right! Those were my boy's toddler years, and although they were probably the hardest years they were probably the most fulfilling. 

To me life seems to get easier with age.   Many may say that they loved their twenties, but I have to admit I would take any time period over that.  At the time I just entered the work force, and had my first "real" job.  I arrived each day at what seemed to be Dante's Inferno and Satan was my boss.  I also bought my first house, which came with a "real mortgage", it was a lot for me being in my early twenties.  The thirties brought me out of the work force, and home with my children, which I was very fortunate to be able to do.  I also returned to school in that time and received another degree much different than business.

With age does come appreciation of the many things of life, especially the times spent with friends and family. Petty things become no longer relevant.  The passage of time sparks new personal interests, and goals. I love seeing my mother, who is in her early seventies, travel to places she could of only dreamed of in her earlier years. 

I have to believe age is just a number.  My mind just cannot grasp the idea of myself, my husband, or any of our close friends as being 40 years of age.  I hope none of us ever feel 40 either. 

I truly believe now (because age just makes you wiser) that each age is a present from God, a gift to be enjoyed!

Love Your Body: Positive Ads

Love Your Body: Positive Ads

School officially lets out tomorrow.....Yay.....we'll maybe for a while. With that comes the summer weather, skimpier outfits, and yes, the dreaded bikini, or for some of us less daring the one-piece bathing suit. For some of us, our insecurities seem to run rampant at this time. We want to be in shape, and tan for the summer months. Unfortunately, our image of beautiful, has been pre-determined for us by the actresses, models, or performers we see in the media. As much as I have enjoyed shows like "Friends", and "Desperate Housewives" throughout the years, the size 2 - 4 that drapes the women on these shows is usually unattainable for most women. As for myself, I would look like a prepubescent boy in that size, but some women are naturally that size, and God Bless Them. My prayer for myself and other women, is to love the body you're in, treat it good 'cuz it's not going anywhere. Take care of it now, because you'll be thanking it later.

I looked over the negative ads on this site, and they are the exact negative ads that bombard me in the various magazines that I read. The women may be thin, but where is the glow? Some of them look like they are on crack (they may possibly be)....They all look submissive in some way. Notice that there is usually one woman in the ad, kept alone, isolated. I believe these ads are capable of driving anyone to an unhealthy addiction, check out Calvin Klein's ad I believe it's an advertisement promoting eating disorders.

But thankfully, some advertisers are getting it! KUDOS to advertisers like Dove, Cover Girl and Liz Claiborne for bringing out the healthy, natural beauty of a women. I especially love the advertisement for Liz Claiborne, the girl is a natural, beautiful, healthy looking girl, who glows. The same with the older-aged woman in the Dove advertisement, she is definitely comfortable in her skin, and proves you are beautiful no matter how old you are. Queen Latifah looks majestic as a queen in her ads for Cover Girl, she shines with her poise and confidence. I would love to see more advertisers jump on the bandwagon, I'm speaking to you especially Dolce and Gabbana and Calvin Klein because I love your products, as most of us do! Our young women and men need to see real beauty, that comes in all shapes and colors, without any assault being taken upon them, and without them looking like they are intoxicated in some way. As one of my favorite songs by TLC goes, they try to make you feel "Unpretty", and that buying into their disturbed image is the answer. I think we all are smarter than that!