Keeping Things in Perspective

Week two with the cast. I'm sorry I'm being such a big baby. There are people with worse problems so I must keep that in perspective!

So, on a brighter note, I've been really working on my writing! Since I can't properly work out and I can't drive, I sit at my makeshift office (the dining room and thank goodness no one is coming over for the holidays) and type away. It's quiet (with the exception of the twelve phone calls a day from telemarketers asking for the political polls) and I can concentrate.

I've done my Christmas cards and shopping, so this is perfect to get things done in the writing department.

Because of this, my daughter is exploring her culinary skills now she is responsible for making the dinner. My husband is helping out. Last week, I sent him to the grocery store and he came back with a two hundred dollar grocery bill with food that we don't usually eat.

This week, we went 'together' with my scooter and the bill was under one hundred dollars with food we do eat.

Because I can't use the stairs (because I'm a klutz), we now sit in  the same room and actually communicate with each other.

So, all in all, with the exception of a few things, this has been a positive situation!

Setback!

I don't know if you've been following, but the Saturday before Thanksgiving, I was on one of my power walks which I love to do because it's such a stress buster. Two blocks before home, I stepped on a pile of acorn nuts (we've had a ton this year) and when I came down, I slid and rolled my ankle. I didn't think much about it, thinking it was only a sprain. I could put my full weight on it and at least shuffle along. I could even wear low heels!

Come this Monday, I looked down on it and it really looked strange. It was swollen and if it was just a sprain, why wasn't it getting any better? I made an appointment with the doctor's office. I saw a Nurse Practitioner who thoroughly examined me and agreed something was not right. While having the x-ray, the tech confirmed it. My ankle was broken in two places. Here I've been walking on a broken ankle for ten days. Really?

They got me in immediately to the Orthopedic surgeon. Now, I have a non-walking cast on my right foot and will be wearing this for four weeks. I have to have an x-ray once a week to make sure it's healing properly. If not, they will re-break it and put in pins and rods. Let's pray it heals quickly.

You know, I'm an over achiever. I don't sit still for long periods of time and do everything for everyone. Do you know how hard it is to just sit here? Granted, now I have more time to write, but still. My mind is all over the board.

Oh, let me tell you about crutches? I am an exercise freak and consider myself pretty athletic. Nothing has prepared me for this. I've almost fallen more times than I can count and things you take for granted?  Showers? Sponge Baths. You can't carry things using crutches and no driving! Well.

I know it could be worse. I just read in the sports today where a Nascar driver is having surgery on his one leg and other foot. I just have to keep everything is perspective. I know.

I have my office set up downstairs in the rarely used dining room, so I can write. I pray for patience!

Perks of Being an Author

Gimpy here, reporting in! Yes, my ankle is still sprained and swollen but it is getting a little better. I am a bad patient. Let's face it. I can't sit still. Yes, I put up my holiday decorations. Yes, I vacuumed the house. Yes, I tried Black Friday shopping standing in long lines....

It was a productive time for me, I have to admit. I have written an outline for another manuscript but not sure which way I'm going to go with it. This makes three books I'm working on. When I tell people I'm an author, they open up to me and tell me the most amazing stories ever. There is so much life going on out there; some good, some bad.

The weather here in Texas is making me crazy. It's been raining for five straight days now. This is the wettest year in Texas, EVER! I can handle the clouds but I still need my sunshine! Now, they're saying maybe Monday afternoon.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Sunday Breakdowns

Sunday is not a day of rest in the Kasznia household. It is a day of appliance breakdowns. This house did inspire my first published book.

Of course, I'm upset about my ankle. Even though it happened a week ago, it does not feel any better and I'm tired of it. I think I'll break down and call the doctor. It's just that I've racked up so many medical bills this year with my SVT.

We drink boxed wine as well as bottles. Whoever opened the new Merlot box didn't close it properly so when we opened the door to get our orange juice, our fridge was soaking in Merlot. So, here at 7 in the morning, we're cleaning out the fridge. It did need it but I don't know about you, sometimes I need the right frame of mind to tackle a chore like that. I didn't have time to even think!

While doing that, the stone fell out of my earring. Thank goodness for Gorilla glue.

Why is is so cold in here? We did have our first freeze of the year. The downstairs heater isn't working. The upstairs is fine and our fireplace is working. Thinking of the cost to call on a Sunday warrants us to wear sweatshirts and call on Monday. All before noon!

Other than life, I have been writing on my two books while still waiting word on my submission of my seventh book. The thing is, even more characters are making their appearances as I write. It's becoming a really funny story! Can't wait to see how it ends.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

NFL Sunday!

I feel badly because a lot of folks have been asking about when my next book is coming out. I do not know! As soon as it does, I will let you know. No, I haven't given up on writing, even though I have suffered some discouragement. I have so many stories in my head, I can't help but put them down on paper!

As you know (or can figure out), sports are a big deal with me. Every time my NFL team plays, we go to a sports bar to watch. Since moving to Texas, we've found one that we like and patronize. However, over the six years we've been here, opposing team fans have not been very unsportsmanlike. Our team rivals, even thought we're not playing against each other, are really rude. Our rivals have adopted this place as theirs, making it very uncomfortable to visit. We've been crowded out to only one table and television (which has no sound) as their numbers have grown. Even the waitress staff have reduced us to second place. Apparently, our money is the wrong shade of green....

Today, we are trying a new bar. It's really a restaurant where people go for lunch after church, so you have to watch your language and not curse at a bad call. But, I think it's better then the treatment we have been receiving....

My prayers are sent to Paris...

Hazards of This Author

I tell you! What is one of the worst fears for me? When my computer doesn't work. Yes, I have backed up all of my books and important information, but still. The heart wrenching feeling when you press the on button and NOTHING HAPPENS!!!

You have to understand, I go through laptops like water. I don't know what it is about me. I am on my fifth laptop in less than six years. My husband still has his desk top from 2001!

When I decided to devote myself to a career as an author, I mentally prepared myself for rejections, totally rewritten manuscripts, mental blackouts and have learned how to deal with bad reviews, but I didn't realize the impact of not having a computer can do to you.

The sad thing is, in a prior life, I used to work as a Help Desk Assistant for three years. I know what kind of trouble can lurk out there if you're not careful. With this last laptop, I made sure it was for writing and checking emails only. I don't play games on it and I don't subscribe to any lewd webpages. I write and I promote my work via social media. That is it.

So who knew I could pick up Malware from Facebook, even though I have McAfee? Well, I did.

It was suggested by Office Max that I install Malware Bytes. I did and I thought I had the problem fixed. Nope. I turned on my laptop and it read: Your compute is at risk!" from McAfee. I tried running a scan and it wouldn't work. In the meantime, I kept getting messages from Malware Bytes that my trial subscription was about to expire. It did.

I dug into my files and found the original paper work for McAfee and mentally prepared myself to uninstall it and then go to my online account to reinstall it. For a fleeting moment, I thought I better uninstall Malware Bytes since I didn't want to purchase it. I did and lo and behold, McAfee worked! Apparently, they were in contention with each other. I ran a full scan and am a happy camper.

This morning, I made an English Muffin for breakfast. It was kind of crumbly and a huge chunk of it fell into the bottom of the toaster. (The toaster belonged to my mother in law who passed away almost eleven years ago.) It's a four slice which comes in handy when making breakfast for company. I carefully unplugged it and shook it into the garbage can but there was still this little piece wedged underneath a wire. I jigged it carefully with a knife and the piece fell out. Feeling triumphant, I put the remaining muffin in, plugged it in and turned it on. PHZZZZT! Now only one side of the toaster works.

Maybe I shouldn't touch anything else for the rest of the day...

Hope everyone had a good week!

It was my birthday week and I didn't get very much accomplished with my writing. I had a good day on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, but the other days were pretty much shot. I'm not really pleased where my characters took me on Friday and may have some discussions with them. This is suppose to be a comedy and it took a turn to the dark side. Maybe the weather had something to do with it since it rained here and we received an additional 5 inches from the 9 inches we had last weekend!

Halloween turned out well and we went through all of our candy. I did sneak in a bite size Butter Finger....something I haven't had in ages. Tasted really good, but one bite was enough!

Back to my author career. I have some major decisions to make and a great deal of investigative work to be done. Nothing is ever easy, is it?

Please pray for Beau. He is my friend's five year old kitty who is having some major health issues. He is very special and needs all the prayers he can get!