Recently at my critique group, the other ladies were reviewing my work and the general theme of their comments was they wanted to know more about my police officer heroine.  In my story I’d dangled lots of bits of interesting clues about the problems in her life, but hadn’t given them enough information about what my heroine was feeling or thinking about.  I found myself saying, more than once, to the group, “I thought that would slow the story down.”

Driving home, I was thinking about what they’d said, but soon had to push those thoughts out of my mind because I had to think about what I needed to do at work the next day.  Then my mind drifted to two different friends I’ve been meaning to call for the past several weeks.  Each time I think of my friends it’s not at a time where I can take a moment and call.

Then I started thinking about the updates I want to make to this website, and chores that needed to be done when I got home.  That’s not even taking into account the ten-plus hours I’m spending at work daily.  Frankly, I think about work a lot when I’m off.  I’m sure you get it by now - I’m busy…just as I’m sure most of you are too.

It really struck home that I’m living my life running from one task to another.  As soon as one job is done, like a Pez dispenser, another task pops into place.  As a person who is very goal oriented and loves lists where I can check off jobs completed, I realized I was rushing through life - not taking much time to think about what I’m doing or the direction I’m headed.

I know I need to slow down.  I WANT to slow down, but just can’t seem to do it.  Unlike my writing, I want to slow down MY story.

So that’s the question of the day.  How do you get it all done?  I’m not just referring to finding time to write, but does anyone have time to “stop and smell the roses” anymore?  If you do, I’m looking for tips on how to do it.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO ON MY IPOD RIGHT NOW:  Walking After Midnight by Patsy Cline

Until next time;

KMA367

There is a monster in my house.  It has morphed itself into two separate locations blatently taunting me with the fact there is little I can do to get rid of it. 

My husband occasionally asks me when I’m going to “take care” of the beast.  I reply with one of those looks that a wife gives a husband when he’s gone too far.  You see, the monster and I have a sick relationship.  I give it a wary eye, and yet, I’m drawn to get closer, to touch it, explore it, to devour it.   To make matters worse, the monster entices me with promises of emotional excitement and adventure. 

Sometimes I actually feed the incubus and, naturally, feel guilty.  After the beast has been fed, it flaunts it’s bloated size as a dare.  Every now and then, I take a swipe at the fiend and rip away a part of it - but it’s pointless.  The beast continues to grow. 

I admit it - I’m defeated and powerless against my “To Be Read” pile of books…the growing monster in my home.

How big is your “TBR” pile?  How do you manage it?  Do you restrict yourself from buying more books?  When do you steal moments to read?  Help me…please!

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO ON MY IPOD RIGHT NOW: Masquerade from the Phatom of the Opera

Until next time;

KMA367

One of my writer friends recently lost her husband in a plane crash.  He was the only one onboard and they found his plane demolished in some pine trees about 2 miles from the airport he was trying to reach for an emergency landing.  At this time, not much is known about the crash other than the fact he had time to radio he was experiencing engine failure.

Today, I’m going to my friend’s vacation home (in Southern California) to help her pack up their belongings.  She is planning to put their home by the beach up for sale. 

Truth be told, I really don’t know my friend all that well.  I met her at the RWA National Conference in Washington D.C. in 2000 when I gave a workshop.  We began communicating via e-mail after the conference.   I’ve started “e-mail friendships” after almost every conference, but very few have withstood the test of time.  But “Lana” (this is an alias I made up to protect her privacy) and I have kept in touch for the past eight years. 

I’ve seen her at subsequent RWA conferences but our real communication has been via e-mail.  We might go months without “talking” to each other.  But when one of us has something to say we send off a message and we pick up conversation as if we were sitting across the room from one another.

Lana has suffered other tragedy as well in her life, losing her young adult son in a fire several years ago.  It’s the least I can do to help Lana pack cardboard boxes of memories she shared with her husband.   I suspect she’s still in shock at how her life has changed forever.  I’ll do what I can to ease her pain.

I tell you her story because Lana’s loss is an undisguised reminder to appreciate your loved ones today - because everything can change in a small moment. 

Until next time…

KMA367

I just read a post about a woman in Japan who was arrested for murdering her virtual husband.  The 43 year-old woman had an avitar who’d virtually married the avitar of a man who played in the same virtual game world.

The Japanese woman was mad because the avitar husband had divorced the avitar wife without any notice.  One day they were married and the next they were divorced.  So the Japanese lady (and creater of the virtual wife) allegedly hacked into the computer of the man who had created the virtual husband avitar and killed off the husband avitar.  The Japanese woman is facing jail time and a heavy fine.

For some reason this story strikes me as really funny.  Can you imagine explaining this story to your grandparents?  I can just see my grandma saying, “Now, dear, what to you mean it was an imaginary wedding and bride and groom weren’t real?”

It just goes to show how far technology has come within the past 20 years.  Think back to your first computer and what it could do compared to what can be done now.  Do you remember the first popular video game - Pong?  Who knew then, that in the future, we’d be able to create new worlds and new people?

We thought we had it bad with spam and internet crime.  Now we’ve got virtual murder.

My question is:  Does the Japanese woman go to virtual jail and pay the fine with virtual money?

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO ON MY IPOD RIGHT NOW - Come On Over by Shania Twain

Until next time…

KMA367

Yesterday I did something I’ve never done before - and at my age there aren’t too many “firsts” left in life! 

I sent an e-mail reply to a friend…except I was really replying to the whole writing loop!  Fortunately, there wasn’t anything too private in the message, but I can see how a mistake like that could end a lot of friendships or cause huge problems at work.

I’m happy to say my unexpectedly public e-mail did not cause any serious damage, but it did put me in an awkward position with some new friends.  Luckily for me, they are a gracious group and seem to understand it was a simple mistake.  

So that brings up the question…have you ever sent an errant e-mail that caused you problems?  If so, were you able to “fix” it, and if so, how?

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO ON MY IPOD RIGHT NOW:  I Can’t Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt

Until next time;

KMA367

So last night my husband was on the History Channel on the show Modern Marvels.  The episode was entitled “Bulls Eye”, and Rick demonstrated his skill as a National and World Champion pistol shooter.

So let me tell you what I thought.  In the beginning of the segment, they showed Rick walking across the shooting range.  Nothing unusual about that - except I’ve known the man 18 years and I’ve never seen him move that fast unless he was running for exercise.  My husband has a very distinctive, ambling gait.  I’m not sure what they did to get him to move that fast, but I’d sure like to know!

What can I tell you about his shooting skills?  The man is good - darn good.  In the show, they mentioned that Rick was a two-time World Champion.  What they didn’t tell you was the two times he won those championships, he had to shoot a perfect score both times in order to win.  In one of the contests, not only did he have to shoot perfect scores, the scoring went down to who had shot the most bulls eyes, ten, nines and then eights.  (Targets are scored bulls eyes for the center ring, 10 for the next outer ring, 9 for the next outer ring etc).  The championships he won were a team event, so he not only had the pressure of winning the championship for himself, but if he screwed up he’d be letting his three team mates down as well.  I’ll tell you right now, I dont think I could perform under such pressure.

Now, lets talk about Rick’s new signature line…”Want six more?”  Oh my gosh!  When I (we) saw that, we were laughing until our stomachs hurt.  Rick told me the producer kept telling him to say that.  Rick’s first words after seeing that portion of the show were, “I’m going to catch such **** (fill in the blank) at work.”  I hate to say it but he’s right.  I’m sure he’ll hear that line from other officers for the rest of his career.

With that said, my husband is my rock.  One of his greatest strengths is his coolness under pressure.  I thought he did an excellent job.  I’m very proud of him and glad that so many people could see just how “marvelous” he is.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO ON MY IPOD RIGHT NOW:  I Heard it Through the Grapevine by Michael McDonald

Until next time,

KMA367

I’m kind of short on time this morning, so I’ll be making this quick.

Today, Monday, October 20, 2008, my husband will be on the History Channel on the show called Modern Marvels.  He will be demonstrating his talent as a National and World champion pistol shooter.

In Los Angeles the show airs at 5:00 PM.  If you look at your television guides the show is titled “Bullseye”.  They are showing a different episode later in the evening.

I hope you can watch.  (And if you can’t tell, I’m very proud of him!)

Until next time;

KMA367