That's a question that sometimes keeps me up at night and, believe me, I can ill afford the loss of sleep, with all that's going on in my life this summer. Stress, stress and more stress! And the curious, truly peculiar thing is, none of it is bad!
Deadlines. (This is the best book I've written so far.)
Company. (I love every one of these people dearly.)
Trips. (I'm not so wild about airports, airlines and stripping down to go through security, but I LOVE a change of scene.)
And Murphy's Law in full swing!
(Okay, that last one might qualify as bad, but it's been my experience that chaos is the beginning of order.)
Here are the questions that keep me awake:
What if I don't get everything done? (I always do.)
What if I get sick? (I'm disgustingly healthy.)
What if I gain back all the weight I've lost? (It won't happen if I weigh every day and address any problems before they get out of hand.)
What if space aliens abduct my dogs? (PLEASE. Who else could afford to feed them, but me?)
You get the picture. Crazy stuff. The downside of having a VERY creative imagination.
Today, while writing in my journal, I came to a conclusion that is probably obvious to all of you.
What if--everything turns out just fine? :)
As it almost always does. That's the question I'm going to ask myself from now on.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
The Older I Get...
The more ways I am like my parents.
Fortunately, since I was derned lucky in the parent department, this is mostly good.
My sense of humor and love of books and the written word in general come from my mother. (So, alas, does my tendency to have little piles of paper everywhere, let the mail stack up, etc.)
My love of horses and all things western is my dad's legacy. I've got his persistence, but also his stubborn streak. And lately I've noticed a few other connections--he loved to work with wood and build things, and his workshop was his haven. Now, I'm going to have a studio--aka, heaven-on-earth. I can finally, finally spread out all my tools and have a place--besides the kitchen table--to let things dry.) I have his habit of writing things down in a little memo book, too--mostly, ideas for an ATC or a collage I'd like to do. (This is my way of restraining myself from rushing off, firefly-style, to try every new thing that occurs to me. Being a creative type, a LOT of new things occur to me, on a pretty regular basis, and books don't get written that way!)
On the ATC/collage front, I'm excited because I had some cookie cutters made to the exact measurement of a trading card--I can do them in polymer clay. I also designed a crown, since I use a lot of crowns in current pieces, and had it made in two sizes. What a kick to see my own drawing translated into metal!
Alas, I've made a new rule for myself. No art until the pages are done.
It's not so bad, really. Because I love writing even more than art!
I had a fabulous time in San Francisco--many watershed moments--but it's even better to be home. The bad news is, I gained five pounds, eating all that sourdough bread and having desserts at the various dinners and parties--three of which were in my honor, so how could I abstain? :) The good news is, part of that is what I call airplane weight, and I'm back on the food plan as of right now. Better to take off 5 pounds than 50, right? And if I'd followed that rule before, I wouldn't have been a Weight Watchers lifetime-member some five or six times!
We live, we learn.
Hopefully.
Make it a good day.
Fortunately, since I was derned lucky in the parent department, this is mostly good.
My sense of humor and love of books and the written word in general come from my mother. (So, alas, does my tendency to have little piles of paper everywhere, let the mail stack up, etc.)
My love of horses and all things western is my dad's legacy. I've got his persistence, but also his stubborn streak. And lately I've noticed a few other connections--he loved to work with wood and build things, and his workshop was his haven. Now, I'm going to have a studio--aka, heaven-on-earth. I can finally, finally spread out all my tools and have a place--besides the kitchen table--to let things dry.) I have his habit of writing things down in a little memo book, too--mostly, ideas for an ATC or a collage I'd like to do. (This is my way of restraining myself from rushing off, firefly-style, to try every new thing that occurs to me. Being a creative type, a LOT of new things occur to me, on a pretty regular basis, and books don't get written that way!)
On the ATC/collage front, I'm excited because I had some cookie cutters made to the exact measurement of a trading card--I can do them in polymer clay. I also designed a crown, since I use a lot of crowns in current pieces, and had it made in two sizes. What a kick to see my own drawing translated into metal!
Alas, I've made a new rule for myself. No art until the pages are done.
It's not so bad, really. Because I love writing even more than art!
I had a fabulous time in San Francisco--many watershed moments--but it's even better to be home. The bad news is, I gained five pounds, eating all that sourdough bread and having desserts at the various dinners and parties--three of which were in my honor, so how could I abstain? :) The good news is, part of that is what I call airplane weight, and I'm back on the food plan as of right now. Better to take off 5 pounds than 50, right? And if I'd followed that rule before, I wouldn't have been a Weight Watchers lifetime-member some five or six times!
We live, we learn.
Hopefully.
Make it a good day.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Headed Back to the Ranch
It will be good to get home and doubly good to see the dogs and cats. I've missed my four-legged housemates something fierce. (Missed the horses, too, of course, but it will be dark when I arrive, so the equine reunion will have to wait until morning.)
I do love San Francisco. I travel a lot, and I've been everywhere, man, as the song goes, but the City by the Bay is definitely special. I love the downtown area, anyway--don't know all that much about the outlying areas. Chinatown is a five minute walk from here, and there's a very good art supply store on New Montgomery Street, near the Art Academy. If I lived here, I would definitely be taking classes at that college. I'd consider a condo, but---where would I put my horses? :) And while Sadie-beagle is the most adaptable dog on the planet, Bernicie would be terrified by all the noises and the crowds. The cats? Forget it. They're not good travelers, although when I become a snowbird, they're going, too.
So I'll stick with my original plan, which is to get a winter place in or near Cave Creek, AZ, my old stompin' grounds. I don't miss the AZ summers one bit, but the winters are heaven on earth. And I've noticed that those spectacular sunsets are turning up in my art journals. (I use individual sheets of 6x6 watercolor paper, which I sign and date and will eventually keep in a decorated box.) Of course I continue to journal in the usual pen-to-paper way--that is vital to my psychological and spiritual welfare--but I find the painting process very revealing. The subconscious mind thinks in pictures, after all, not words. For this reason, I've done several that convey positive reminders. I like to tack these up on one of the cupboards in my kitchen for a few days and let the message sink in. Currently, for instance, my focus is on being willing to 'fail' at art until I can succeed. (I was raised to believe that the only real failure is giving up.)
I'm thinking of a phrase I've heard--'tall poppies'. In certain other countries, if someone is a 'tall poppy'--ie, if they think too well of themselves--the shorter poppies feel duty-bound to cut them down. I'm certainly not advocating arrogance or conceit, but here's another of the 10 million plus things I love about America. It's OKAY to be a tall poppy here. It's even encouraged! And if somebody cuts you down, well, heck, you can just grow again--taller this time.
So wherever you happen to be planted, send those roots down deep and hold on. Don't be afraid to grow TALL.
I do love San Francisco. I travel a lot, and I've been everywhere, man, as the song goes, but the City by the Bay is definitely special. I love the downtown area, anyway--don't know all that much about the outlying areas. Chinatown is a five minute walk from here, and there's a very good art supply store on New Montgomery Street, near the Art Academy. If I lived here, I would definitely be taking classes at that college. I'd consider a condo, but---where would I put my horses? :) And while Sadie-beagle is the most adaptable dog on the planet, Bernicie would be terrified by all the noises and the crowds. The cats? Forget it. They're not good travelers, although when I become a snowbird, they're going, too.
So I'll stick with my original plan, which is to get a winter place in or near Cave Creek, AZ, my old stompin' grounds. I don't miss the AZ summers one bit, but the winters are heaven on earth. And I've noticed that those spectacular sunsets are turning up in my art journals. (I use individual sheets of 6x6 watercolor paper, which I sign and date and will eventually keep in a decorated box.) Of course I continue to journal in the usual pen-to-paper way--that is vital to my psychological and spiritual welfare--but I find the painting process very revealing. The subconscious mind thinks in pictures, after all, not words. For this reason, I've done several that convey positive reminders. I like to tack these up on one of the cupboards in my kitchen for a few days and let the message sink in. Currently, for instance, my focus is on being willing to 'fail' at art until I can succeed. (I was raised to believe that the only real failure is giving up.)
I'm thinking of a phrase I've heard--'tall poppies'. In certain other countries, if someone is a 'tall poppy'--ie, if they think too well of themselves--the shorter poppies feel duty-bound to cut them down. I'm certainly not advocating arrogance or conceit, but here's another of the 10 million plus things I love about America. It's OKAY to be a tall poppy here. It's even encouraged! And if somebody cuts you down, well, heck, you can just grow again--taller this time.
So wherever you happen to be planted, send those roots down deep and hold on. Don't be afraid to grow TALL.
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Cowgirl on the Loose!
Last night was the big Harlequin party, and it was very glam, as always. I'm proud to say I received my 25-book pin, which I will treasure. (I've written a LOT more than 25 books, as most of you know, but these were for Harlequin specifically.)
Jen and I visited Pier 39 yesterday, and it was SO much fun. The shopping was merely fantastic! We had lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Bay, with a great view of Alcatraz. Saw sea lions, too, sunning themselves and taking the occasional leisurely dip. :)
We had our fortunes told by one of those mechanical machines, like in "Big". What a kick! There certainly isn't a Zoltar (or whatever his name was) in good ole Spokane!
I did not get up in the middle of the night for an art binge, as I sometimes do, but I was ready for one. Jen and I hoofed it down to a nearby art supply store yesterday, and I got some great six-by-six watercolor paper. Did a flower last night, just to unwind. As I've said before, an artist is someone who does art--nobody said it had to be good art!
Today, we're heading for Fisherman's Wharf. If possible, we'll get on one of those tour boats and go out to Alcatraz.
I love San Francisco. It's a great town!
So I'll continue the blog tomorrow, so you'll know what I'm up to. :)
Jen and I visited Pier 39 yesterday, and it was SO much fun. The shopping was merely fantastic! We had lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Bay, with a great view of Alcatraz. Saw sea lions, too, sunning themselves and taking the occasional leisurely dip. :)
We had our fortunes told by one of those mechanical machines, like in "Big". What a kick! There certainly isn't a Zoltar (or whatever his name was) in good ole Spokane!
I did not get up in the middle of the night for an art binge, as I sometimes do, but I was ready for one. Jen and I hoofed it down to a nearby art supply store yesterday, and I got some great six-by-six watercolor paper. Did a flower last night, just to unwind. As I've said before, an artist is someone who does art--nobody said it had to be good art!
Today, we're heading for Fisherman's Wharf. If possible, we'll get on one of those tour boats and go out to Alcatraz.
I love San Francisco. It's a great town!
So I'll continue the blog tomorrow, so you'll know what I'm up to. :)
Friday, August 01, 2008
Cowgirl STILL in the Big City
The Single-Title party was held at George Bierce, a cool grill/bar kind of place with a view of the Golden Gate. I had a great time, hanging out with old friends and making new ones!
Today Jenni and I are going sightseeing. I'll be back in plenty of time to gussy up for tonight's dinner with my favorite publishing execs, followed by the fantastic and legendary Harlequin party, where chocolate flows like water. :) And so does champagne! (I'll definitely be back on grilled fish and veggies for a few days once I get home. I LIKE wearing these skinny jeans.)
After a room service breakfast, we'll head for Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, etc. We might even take the boat out to Alcatraz.
I'm enjoying this trip so much. Color everywhere. I'm so delighted by it I've been using colored gel pens in my journal, just to liven things up. :) In short, I'm having fun!
More later.
Today Jenni and I are going sightseeing. I'll be back in plenty of time to gussy up for tonight's dinner with my favorite publishing execs, followed by the fantastic and legendary Harlequin party, where chocolate flows like water. :) And so does champagne! (I'll definitely be back on grilled fish and veggies for a few days once I get home. I LIKE wearing these skinny jeans.)
After a room service breakfast, we'll head for Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, etc. We might even take the boat out to Alcatraz.
I'm enjoying this trip so much. Color everywhere. I'm so delighted by it I've been using colored gel pens in my journal, just to liven things up. :) In short, I'm having fun!
More later.
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