My Memory's Great

If what I'm reading about chocolate is true, then I might be pretty smart. I'm reading that an ounce (or two) of dark chocolate contains something which could make you smarter. Since I'm not able to remember what it is, either I'm not eating enough, or the claim isn't true. Wouldn't it be great if that was all you had to do? Just eat chocolate and you would become smarter or have a better memory? I do remember lots of things. For example, I no longer ask my husband if "these jeans make me look fat" or do you like this "new recipe". The other thing I've learned not to comment on is the "new hair style". My husband doesn't like change. Maybe he just gets used to the way I look. He should know by now that in 6 months I'm going to change "the hair style". I think I just get bored with the way it looks, or don't like to mess with it. My husband is brutally honest. A characteristic that sometimes gets him in trouble. He woke the other day sneezing. He swears its not a summer cold, it has to be allergies. I gave him a hug after a series of sneezes and said, "wow, are you sure that's not a summer cold?" He shook his head, "no honey, it's not a cold. I'm sure it's allergies." I scrunched my nose and stared into his baby blue eyes. "What do you think you're allergic to?" Without missing a beat, he said, "probably dust."

SIGN ME UP

I met a lady from London the other day who was very charming. We sat and talked about her life adventures, from London England to somewhere in Spain. I was enthralled by her accent and her many mannerisms. She called us things like "lovey". She is in the "beauty business". Her words, not mine. She does a procedure with a machine which stimulates the muscles of the face and makes you look younger. I guessed her age to be somewhere around 45 to 50. She "maintains" her muscles about once a week while watching television. I was there supporting my friend who is interested in the training. While they continued discussing business issues and then future training, they turned to me. "Would you be willing to let her practice on you?" Practice on me? At first I had visions of a young Dakota Fanning. What if something goes wrong? The lady shared with us she will be 72 her next birthday. I'm thinking, I don't know about this. I have always been very happy with the way I look. I'm a grandmother. I don't want to look like their Mother. Anyway, she looked at me, and said with her very British accent, "We can train your face muscles, but we can't do anything about your turkey neck, Lovey." Well sign me up!!!!!!!

BAILEY CAN READ

Our little puppy, who is actually almost 4 years old now, is afraid of loud noises. We are in the rainy season in Florida. Every day was becoming a new challenge for my husband and I. You have to realize what crazed people we have become in regards to this dog. We hardly go anywhere we can't take him. If it involves a trip in the car one of us "sacrifices" going inside to either stay in the car with Bailey or taking Bailey for a walk. To say he has us wrapped around his paw, would be a fair statement. We take him for a walk at night and laugh about that little tail. He takes off in front of us, tail hiked like a windshield wiper, back and forth. When we have to leave him, we rush to the kennel to let him out when we come home. He loves his kennel. In fact, there are times even when we are home he will go climb in and fall asleep. A few years ago, while we were at a friends house we realized how frightened he is of loud noises. During a 4th of July celebration, the neighbors started about 10 p.m. and continued until 2 or 3 in the morning. There was no consoling Bailey. He shook like a small tree in a wind storm. When the lightning flashes and the thunder roars, Bailey runs to one of us for comfort. However, he won't let us comfort him. He immediately jumps down and runs. A few weeks ago, we decided to ignore him, just to see what would happen. It was so hard. I almost cried. Within the hour during an unusually violent storm, Bailey disappeared. I searched for our boy. After a few minutes, I found him in the bathroom. Sleeping very peacefully in the bathtub, of all places. I came back to the living room smiling. My husband looked confused. "Where is he?" I said, "he must have read the memo to get in the bathtub during a storm."

TAKE A DEEP BREATH

I read a blog the other day about having a life, outside of writing. I checked the corners of my office, thinking there might be a hidden camera. Was she talking to me?Since I've been working on edits, I have been trying to keep my nose pressed against this monitor. I don't remember the last night we went out for dinner. (He still asks me for dates though) However, if we go out, that means I have to "quit" writing early. When I make dinner here, I can continue writing until the 6 o'clock hour. I haven't been shopping for a while, except groceries. I was supposed to go to a social networking group yesterday for lunch, but printer problems arose while I was printing 76 newsletters to get in the mail for my Women's Ministry group. I've set aside time to read a few blogs, and post a quick comment to them. Write my own blog and update my two web sites. When I "relax" at night I read friends books, who are waiting on reviews or comments.So what does she mean I don't have a life? The timer just went off. Take a deep breath and get back to editing.

WHEN DO YOU QUIT

Someone asked me yesterday "When do you quit?" She was talking about looking for a publisher. She got a rejection. Can you imagine? ONE rejection? I stifled a laugh and shook my head. I said to her, "You've got to be kidding. You are ready to quit because you got one rejection?" She nodded and continued. "I must not be a writer." When I read other people's blogs and realize they started writing ten years ago, five years ago, or maybe even a year ago, they are published because they didn't give up. A very dear friend of mine, a published writer herself, Linore Rose Burkard, said; "Think of your book like a key. You have to find the right door to open with that key." You spend hours of your day, writing, researching, picking other writers brains, trying to get the scene right. You spend time developing characters. I fall in love with my characters and I miss them terribly when I finish a manuscript. Finally back to my friend. I said, "one rejection is an invitation." She looked puzzled, so I continued. "Each time you get a rejection, that's an invitation to send another query." She raised an eyebrow. "So when do you quit?" She continued. When you find the right publisher.