Last Friday, Maine was put under a hurricane watch - the first one in 17 years. We were worried that the electricity might go out during the middle of the Fall 2008 24-Hour Short Story Contest. Just a few hours after discussing our concerns, the electricity did go off...except it was only Friday night and the storm was still over a day away. The entire street was plunged into blackness. Hmmm... …
As I've written here before, we stopped eating most meat several months ago. I eat seafood occasionally, chicken very rarely, and pork and red meat almost never. We started cutting back on meat for three reasons: 1. to lower our cholesterol; 2. to avoid the chemicals and hormones they pump into livestock now and 3. because I read the book Skinny Bitch and my eyes were opened to the horrible things that go on in slaughter houses (not just animal abuse, but also meat contamination). Every time I've ever had food poisoning, I've been able to trace it to some form of meat. Sometime last April, I started getting this weird heat sensation on the outside of my left calf... …
Before moving to Massachusetts for a year, and ending up in Maine, we lived in Shoreacres, Texas. While we lived there, our house flooded once during a tropical storm. We only had a few inches of water in the house but the damage was extensive - new floors, new sheetrock, new insulation, new paint...the works! Sadly, during Hurricane Ike, the water from Galveston Bay was over the slab of 100% of the homes there. Officials estimate 39% were heavily flooded and almost 10% were completely destroyed. The city has done a great job of keeping residents informed HERE. …
Richard is back in Maine after a short trip to Corpus Christi, Texas for a family illness. He managed to fly out just ahead of Hurricane Ike... …
Richard had to take a quick trip to Texas for a family illness. I decided to stay in Bangor and hold down the fort here. Problem is...school started this week. So, I'm working, trying to keep the household in order (with help from Alyssa, thank goodness), homeschooling Max, watching Mason, and running errands. Things are pretty hairy right now but I'm managing to keep up with everything! …
After bragging about our cool summer weather, we had a real humdinger of a weekend! It was around 90 degrees...on the day we attended the Folk Festival. Oh, it was beastly! However, the hot weather only hung around for two days. It's supposed to be 49 tonight. What a swing, huh?! …
August is always our slowest month of the year. I guess everybody is on vacation or lounging around the pool. Slow author sign-ups mean more time for me to enjoy spending time sitting outside by the river, playing in my garden with Max, watching Mason dig in the dirt with his bulldozer, and listening to the teenagers' chatter. …
First, I need to report that my health is back to 100%. I'm completely recovered from what I'm now referring to antibiotic poisoning. The medical bills came in and my two-month illness cost over $5K. But, the important thing is that I am completely recovered and back to living a normal life. Hallelujah!! I even went out for sushi this week. I ordered the huge combo platter - 5 types of sushi and 6 types of sashimi. My mom said, "You are flirting with disaster!" …
After my weekend of hell, waiting for my body to wage internal war in my gut while withdrawing from five weeks of antibiotics, I'm feeling much better. Still have some residual effects but I'm no longer homebound. Yea!! …
Last Wednesday, after the new GI said he thought I had antibiotic induced diarrhea and gave me new meds (not antibiotics!), we decided to jump in the truck and race to Virginia, praying we'd get there in time for the big surprise. …
After posting about my recent diagnosis of diverticulosis and diverticulitis, many of you wrote in and kindly told me you thought I perhaps had something else and that I should consider a second opinion. Well, you were right! …
While my hypochondria is usually a stressful annoyance (that's probably an understatement), sometimes it's good to be extra cautious but sometimes it can get a bit ridiculous. They should ban people like me from medical websites... …
After being diagnosed with diverticulosis and diverticulitis, I was feeling pretty good last week - once the antibiotics were gone and I was off the steroids. On Saturday, we went out for Chinese food. I ate very mild stuff - seafood, white rice, a few bites of eggdrop soup, and half an eggroll (that was probably my mistake). That night, I got very ill. Sunday morning, I was better. Sunday afternoon, I was just fine. I was feeling so good that I went shopping and then cooked a large meal for the family (since Richard's been doing all the work around here lately). On Monday morning, I had a full-blown attack - severe abdominal cramps, blood, everything I'd experienced when I was really, really sick. It was awful. …
How dumb am I? Here I've been whining about the daily, annoying pain I've been experiencing in my colon for the past five weeks, all the while forgetting what the original attacks felt like. On Sunday night, I got a reminder! …
Last week, I reported that I was diagnosed with Diverticulitis after almost a month of pain...and other symptoms that you really don't want me to post here. Some of you wrote in that it's a good thing I wasn't diagnosed with diverticulosis. Unfortunately, I was. I didn't post that last week because I was in a rush. …
I am writing this quickly because Richard is trying to get the issue out. Wanted to wait until after my Colonoscopy today (it was actually a Sigmoidostopy) to post this. After three weeks of frantic worrying, I finally have a diagnosis. I have diverticulitis. It requires a bit of a lifestyle change (different diet) but I can live with anything that isn't life-threatening. So, we're feeling very, very blessed today. Thanks sooooo much for all the well wishes and prayers!!! :) This Week's Maxism: "All skulls are bald." Hugs to all! Angela BOOK PROPOSALS THAT WORKED! Real Book Proposals That Landed $10K - $100K Publishing Contracts - Want to read real book proposals that landed these contracts? Simon and Schuster - $100,000; Berkeley Books - $25,000; Osborne-McGraw-Hill - $19,500; Random House $15,000; and many more! See a complete list here: https://www.writersweekly.com/books/3332.html QUERY LETTERS THAT WORKED! Real Queries That Landed $2K+ Writing Assignments - Want to read real query letters that landed these contracts? Woman's Day - $2,800; Redbook - $3,500; Ladies Home Journal - $3,000; DiscoveryHealth.com - $2,000; Lifetime Magazine - $3,000; Life Extension Magazine - $6,480; Natural Remedies - $11,300; and many more! See: https://www.writersweekly.com/books/1409.html …
I want to thank everyone who wrote in last week with ideas about what might be wrong with my colon. I would particularly like to thank (snicker) the people who wrote in with graphic details about colonoscopies. Uh, thanks. Unfortunately, I don't have a diagnosis yet... …
On our last big trip, we ended up going to the emergency room twice, once for Max having a bad stomach virus, and then after Frank ran a golf cart into an electric fence while herding cows. We'd been on the road for seven weeks for our recent trip and it looked like we were going to get lucky on this one. Unfortunately, we couldn't avoid it... …
This week: Dinner with author Jimmy Moore (Livin' La Vida Low-Carb) and his hilarious wife, Christine! Dinner with author Bill Henderson (Cancer-Free -- Your Guide to Gentle, Non-toxic Healing), one of the most loving and gentle souls we've ever met. :) Memorial Day Weekend with my sister and her hubby, a Marine. And I, um, hit a tree with the RV... I said oops. Richard said something a bit louder. ;) …
We've had quite a busy week on the road! On Wednesday and Thursday, the RV was in for repairs at LazyDays in Seffner, Florida. LazyDays provides RVers with just about everything they need while their rig is being repaired, including a large waiting area that features Starbucks coffee, toys for the children, a special area for pet owners, and free breakfast and lunch. As soon as we checked in for repairs, an RV salesman magically appeared, asking if we'd like to look at new RVs... …
We got up at the crack of dawn, kissed Richard and Mason goodbye (that type of boating is not good for toddlers), and drove to the dock... …
This issue is a bit abbreviated because I took off a long weekend while Richard's dad and step-mom were here and... now I'm paying the price. I am SO BEHIND! UG!! Anyway, here's what I did in the past week... …
After stopping in Georgia, we drove to Flagler, Florida. The campground, Beverly Beach RV and Camptown Resort, was right on the ocean. Our RV was parked facing the surf and it was breathtakingly beautiful! After we stopped, pulled out the slides, and got set up, Richard checked his email while Max and Mason piled out of the RV and ran down to the beach with me, barefoot and carefree... …
On Saturday evening, we were feeding the ducks at a campground pond. They were pretty aggressive. Okay, they were incredibly aggressive... …
We spent Saturday in Washington DC. We had dinner in China Town and Max drank one too many glasses of juice... …
As I wrote last week, we escaped Maine, and are heading for the Florida Keys. We often take our business on the road for extended trips in our RV. Since our business is conducted almost entirely online, we can take off indefinitely, provided we have an Internet connection... …
Well, the Amazon/BookSurge Threat stole my Sunday. I usually take Sundays off, to preserve my sanity... …
The large golden egg, which was good for a $20 bill that was perched on the mantle, was found by... …
Speaking of leaving the nest, we're leaving in three weeks, heading south in the RV, and taking the business with us. Whoo hoo! The snow has slowed down dramatically and it looks like we'll be able to get the RV to the shop for the pre-trip inspection. …
Matt turned 21 this week (sniff). Seems like just yesterday he was a wee little teenager coming over to play videogames with little Zach... …
March 1st dawned dreary for us with yet another snowstorm. We've had more than 93 inches this season so far. More snow and ice is expected later this week and we're starting to wonder if we'll be able to dig the RV out in time for our next trip... …
I have two laptops, a primary one and a backup one, for those days when the primary one croaks and needs to be taken to the computer doc. It's rare but it happens... …
Well, my New Year's Resolution paid off. Using my new schedule of working on MY books at least one hour each morning has helped me finally finish the book I've been working on for what seems like forever, BOOK PROPOSALS THAT WORKED! Real Book Proposals That Landed $10K - $100K Publishing Contracts! Whoo hoo!! Now I can sit back and...get to work on my next one! Ha ha. Richard will be doing the marketing campaign for the book. I write. He promotes. It works out really well for us all! I have a confession. Zach loaned us his DVD set of the first season of Lost... …
One day last week, I was thinking to myself, "Wow, we haven't needed to go to the doctor's office in such a long time!" I don't know about you but every time I think something like that, whether I knock on wood or not, that "something" ends up happening, usually within a day or two. I think it's part Mother's Intuition and part Murphy's Law. Anyway, the next day, Ali was complaining about a sore in her throat that had been there for more than a week. …
After a small ice storm this week, it's supposed to clear up. That's a good thing because we're planning to head to Portland for the The Vacationland RV & Camping Supershow! Whoo hoo! Okay, I'm not THAT enthusiastic about it because lugging Max and Mason through those things can be quite a challenge. However, Richard is terribly excited about it. I am looking forward to just getting away for a couple of days. While we do go on a date once a week, and run the occasional errand, spending almost all our time indoors this time of year can be a real drag. Mason is only 19 months old and our outdoor winter activities are really limited at this age. It's just too cold for him most days. …
A few weeks ago, I posted a sad note about my friend, "G", who, at the age of 41, had a heart attack, suffered subsequent "severe brain damage" and was on life support. At that time, lots of my dear readers/friends out there sent notes of hope and prayers from all over the world. One friend even went to St. Patrick's Cathedral and lit candles for G. Another friend added G to her child's private school's morning prayers. Another friend posted G's story on her blog to ask for more prayers from more people. And another friend of a friend was praying for G all the way over in Israel. Even more friends added G to their church prayers, their prayer chains, and even their family dinner prayer-time. So many of you were praying for G! Well, I wanted to give you an update... …
Ali and Frank had their first formal dance last weekend. Ali (age 17) went with her boyfriend and Frank (age 15) went with Ali's best friend, who just happens to be a senior. Now, don't worry. There is no romance there. They just went as friends. The boys looked quite spiffy in their tuxedos and the girls looked so beautiful. …
I'm happy to say that I have been sticking to one of my New Year's Resolution! I worked for an hour every morning last week (and for three hours on Sunday), and finally finished formatting one of my new books. We then printed it out for one last crack at editing. I always have to edit twice on paper - once using the manuscript and then once more using a real, printed copy of the book. That's the nice thing about Print on Demand (POD). You can make changes whenever you want. …
I'm relieved the holidays and our "home-based vacation" are over. I've made two New Year's Resolutions and I'm really going to stick to them this year...and neither one of them has anything to do with weight loss - ha ha! …
As I write this (on Monday), I'm still, technically, on vacation. I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things later this week and I'm glad the holidays are over so we can get back to the usual schedule (working, homeschooling, working, homeschooling...). But, for now, I'm giving my brain a much-needed rest (which means I'm only working until 2:30 p.m. until after the holidays). …
I wanted to thank everybody who wrote in with wise and loving messages about my friend, G. I appreciate the prayers most of all! They really do help. G's family is going to remove her from the respirator this week. I am feeling better. I've made peace with the situation and I am now fondly remembering G's love and the special gifts she gave to all of us during her special lifetime. …
Things have been incredibly stressful here lately. Did I buy everything I was supposed to? Are all the books that MUST be done by Christmas formatted and uploaded to the printer? Did Frank remember to turn on the outdoor Christmas lights tonight? Is the baking on schedule? Who's going to shovel that half inch of snow and ice off the front steps in the morning? Did I just hear Max say he has a sore throat? Did Zach remember to ship the packages to the grandparents yesterday? Shouldn't Ali be home from basketball practice by now?? …
This weekend, we'll be having our annual Gingerbread gathering. The children will get together with some close friends and spend the evening making anatomically correct gingerbread people. You really don't know how creative your children can be until you give them free reign on a project like this. We've had everything from squalling newborn gingerbread babies to saucy gingerbread ladies-of-the-night...and some pretty hilarious characters in between. …
In case you missed the news this week, Maine got hammered by a huge snowstorm. It started snowing around 3 a.m. on Monday morning and, as I write this at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, it's still snowing, but just a light, misty snowfall now. …
Now, we're gearing up for Christmas. Well, okay, we're already in the throes of it. Last Friday was Hoy Holiday. Each year, on the day after Thanksgiving, we go get our Christmas Tree at the local Christmas Tree farm. We then drag it home and all the girls laugh while the guys try to make it stand upright. We then pull the Christmas decorations out of the attic, decorate the whole house, inside and out, drink lots of hot chocolate, eat frozen pizza (don't worry - we cook it first) and then sit around the TV together that night watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. …
