mother nature is a man and other observations..

It feels like a lifetime ago when my co-author said “let’s do it together” when I told her my idea for a book. We started it so many years ago, and we came up with many changes, but the bottom line, women’s humor fiction, and the main story is about two very unlikely women who meet under unusual circumstances and become friends. There is a little get back plot that has a touch of humor, and then of course
Wall Street, astrology, love, intimacy, and success stories. We sent out about six times and received very nice rejections, and instead of sending out even more query letters, my co-author wanted to get on with it and get a publishers stamp. It seemed like a good idea at the time to self publish, and there doesn’t seem to be a stigma anymore, since someone won the Pen Award and self published. There are success stories when a book does well and a publisher picks it up. Whatever, we decided to go the route of, for me, the grueling process of re writing and re writing and re writing. We have an excellent editor who is also doing the cover, and now the book is going to be written in book form to be published. We have another excellent woman who is doing this. All at a cost, I might add. Then it goes to Amazon and Create Space. We had other choices, but asked a few I know who have self published and they are pleased with Amazon. I’m not going into all the legalities and mind-boggling “things” you have to think about. I say this jokingly, but seriously, not joking. This book almost broke up a 40+ year friendship with my co-author. We are as different as the characters in our book. Very much, two unlikely women who became friends at a writing workshop. She had no clue what she was getting herself into. She has a full-time job. We live several floors apart from one another in the same building in NYC. She told me about the apartment I ended up buying. We occasionally have dinner together and December 2 we are going to have a bonding experience going to a shredding place to destroy every piece of paper re the book. Thousands of pages over a 13 year period finishing our book, although it started years and years ago.
My grand-nieces 13, 10, and almost 4 are somewhat more tech knowledgeable than I am. I know I can write, but putting it all together, not my thing. At my age, I’m happy to have a blog, and on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Many women my age aren’t even on the computer, so proud of what I can do, but know my limitations. Barbara actually made the book a reality. The amount of time was endless and so were my changes. I wanted it to be as good as possible. I wanted the book to be genuine and have integrity and I believe it does. Every time I read the book, I saw more changes that needed to be made. I remember speaking to Ronnie, a dear friend who got me officially published on Interfaith family.com, We met as friends and she became instrumental to me over 13 years ago helping and editing the articles that were published when she worked there. She assured me . Telling me that writers sometimes find changes every time they re read their books.
It’s getting close to the cover being completed, and all the other finishing details…….finished. Barbara and I are still talking and while I wouldn’t write a sequel for a million dollars, I’m still happy she’s here on the tenth and I’m on the fourth in case we need each other. Still friends. Still respecting our differences.

I realized a long time ago that the news is something I need to filter out. Anything about child abuse, animal abuse, women abuse, killings, well anything that can be upsetting upsets me more than an average upset. I remember over thirty years ago, an astrologer telling me I should rarely watch bad news, because when you’re on sensitive overload, it takes away your energy, and nourishing yourself is not easy to do with bad and depressing news. I find compartmentalizing a wonderful emotional tool.
So with all the news that has been coming at us, very simply I know I can’t apply logic to illogical situations and the energy it takes to try can be depleted.
So I try to focus on all that is good and all that I am grateful for and live my life.
It’s really the only way, and it’s empowering……

I used to volunteer in a psyc unit and when there was a full moon the patients were agitated, and I read a full moon can definitely affect ones mood. I do believe that the more sensitive your nature, the more you are affected by everything. News News and News to make a point at the moment. That one hour does make a difference with me and the way I notice, is that I have to work harder on myself to stay in the moment with gratitude and not focus on the what if’s or voids that have still stayed voids……but still not giving up on hopes.
This will be a short post and just wondering how the hour change affects you, if at all.
I think in my next life, the sensitive gene might be lightened up a bit………

Just a quick post to say thank you to all new followers. And of course to ones who have stayed with me. I sincerely appreciate your comments and hope to share some good news re the book that is finally coming out. This concept started when I met my co-author at a wild writing workshop. 40 years ago and of course many updates over the years. We only sent queries about seven times and received good feedback but still rejections. Many agents said it might make for a good film. The book is basically about friendship, a little astrology, Wall Street, a fun plot and of course love. It’s a good feeling to be proud of a creative project. We decided to self publish and have a wonderful editor and book cover artist. Will write another post when it’s on Amazon.
My wonderful husband Barry died almost thirteen years ago and wanted me to finish the book with Barbara. He kept asking me “when?” Well love, it’s happening soon.
Forever loved, Forever missed. Your birthday would have been 9/13. Would have been. We had so many that we shared. So many years together and forever grateful.

I know there is still time for summer fun. September should be extended into summer. But it’s just a feeling I get when I see back to school and fall clothes being advertised and its over 90 degrees. Summer is the time to just enjoy summer. Of course listening to constant news is definitely not part of the enjoyment…… and trying to limit my CNN constant barrage of bad news. Trying instead to hold on to a gentle time.
I just returned from almost three months in Virginia with loving family and friends. A beautiful time spent away from the city and treasure my times there. I arrived home to over a dozen mounds of mail and all I can think of is the total waste of paper, and junk mail making up most of the mail. All unpacked and almost all paper work finished. When you’re with family 24/7 its perfect for me because of the friendship I have with my family. I know that’s not always a given. When I’m on the train for over 6 hours, I try very hard not to be sad at leaving, but excited to see my NYC family and friends. Spending time with my granddaughter before she leaves for semester abroad and my son and “daughter”, and soon with friends is the reason I’m not able to move to Virginia. So this is when positive energy and thoughts take over. I’m so fortunate to have both places and family. Living a mindfulness life helps…. and the feeling of gratitude is endless. After all New York City is a pretty great place to call home.
But yet, I think of all the discussions, some with laughter and some with tears that I had so many times in Virginia. Not living alone has its merits. My sister-in-law and I talked about our own Golden Girls and living together at some point in our lives.
So which one would I be?