HO HO HO!!

Tis the Holiday Season

Love the holidays! Love decorating the house, listening to Frank, Dean, Andy, and Nat singing my holiday favorites, and baking. Too bad I eat everything I bake, but I'll deal with that with my resolutions.

Sea Glass

As I wandered the beach on a fall-like day (it is after all San Diego, and fall-like is the best I can hope for), I came upon droves of sea glass. I've been collecting sea glass for years, from all over the world. Everywhere I travel near the ocean, I bring a piece of sea glass home with me. It is essentially trash yes, random bottles ravished by the ocean, but to me it is something much more. I hold it in the palm of my hand, caressing the smooth edges of something that when new would have sliced my hand open. The colors of the glass mimic the ocean, and I imagine the travels of this piece of glass, where it might have started and how it got to the beach where it now rests at my feet. I think of my writing, and where it may take me in the months to come. Where I started, where I am now, and where I may end up. Like a piece of glass, my edges have smoothed over the years, pieces of me have become part of my travels, and as my writing develops, my experiences flow into words. I look at this glass not only as a thing of beauty, but also of change, of enduring change, and see myself.

Happy Halloween!

Autumn, where art thou?

Fall in my Heart

It's 90 degrees in San Diego, and Fall seems as far away as Christmas. Yet, I'm ready for the weather to change (as much as it does in Southern California). My son started high school this year. My novel is with an outside reader right now, and hopefully we are getting closer to perfection. I completed the Solana Beach Triathlon in August, and didn't do too badly. So, now I am ready for a new season, and a new chapter in my life.

Several years ago we lived in Connecticut. Fall was the best time of the year there. We lived in Glastonbury, and every Fall they had a wonderful festival on the town green with everything you can imagine that represents a new season. We also went apple picking in Connecticut every fall. It was such a wonderful time of year. Now that we are back in California, living by the beach, we still hold that time close to our hearts.  It may not be the same, but in my mind, and in my heart, I am back in New England with the Fall foliage, crisp weather, and hot apple cider. Fall is forever in my heart.

GOAAALS!!!

I ask my son to set goals for himself, both in school and in sports. Sometimes, they are a little unrealistic, but he's learning. Setting realistic goals is a challenge at any age. In the past I have said I would like to be a published author, have better health, run faster, swim better, etc, etc, but I never mapped out how to achieve these things. I realize I need to be more specific, and when I am specific my goals are attainable.

Improve my triathlon time: (Practice swimming in open water. Note to self: sharks are our friends)

Publish my novel (I'm working on it.)

Eat less sweets (I'm pretty good about this, but then there's Sprinkles.)

Laugh more (Admittedly, I laugh a lot, but I just like to remind myself)

Spend some time everyday with a good book (finding the time is hard, but well worth it)

Listening to good music (thank you, Pandora)

I just finished the book Black Wave, a true account of a family's adventure at sea. It was given to me by the author, Jean Silverwood, who I met through tennis. It is truly an amazing story. I honestly could not put it down.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Wave-Familys-Adventure-Disaster/dp/1400066557

Ok, ok, you talked me into it. I'll go with you. Geez, some guys.

The Future

As my son prepares to graduate from eighth grade, I am reminded of a quote by Franklin Roosevelt:

"We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future."

This is more true today than ever before. Now, if I can just find a quote on how to deal with a teenager. 

Editing: A love-hate relationship

In the throes of editing my manuscript. Going through it again to make sure it's as clean as possible. I think I have it memorized by now.

Nevertheless, I rewarded myself with a Sprinkles red velvet cupcake. Yes, I know I'm in training. Yes, I know I'm running the Carlsbad 5K in less than two weeks and hope to run it in under 20 minutes. But I'm pretty sure I can tackle those pesky spaces now.  Thank you Sprinkles. You haven't let me down yet.