Giving myself a birthday present by getting a body massage

Since I was hitting the big 49th birthday,  I felt deeply that something different needed to happen in my life.  So I figured to do more for myself on this special day.  I could have bought myself clothing, or jewelry, but I could do this for myself any old-time.  So I decided to get a 90 minutes body massage (I usually just go for an hour).  

Making arrangements over the phone, I asked the attendant at the spa that I go to on what was the difference between an hour and ninety minutes.  I mean I couldn’t fathom on what else the masseuse could do for me.  I was assured that it was worth the extra pennies, so I decided on the 90 minutes.    

I went to my appointment and was thoroughly enjoying the administrations of a good rub down when I started thinking, ‘Billie, you’re 49 years old today.  What are you going to do the next thirty years for an encore?’ My mind froze.  But what really started flipping around in my noodle was the question: ‘What exactly did I accomplish in the last thirty years?’

Walking away from the house

A few weeks ago, me and my husband decided to walk away from the property that we were all set to buy.  It has been one ride after another.  While we were ready to close on the deal, the banks were slow to finish their side of the process.  So eventually as we sat waiting on our hands, the house was broken into four times.  As I walked through the house after the last break in, I told my husband that we just can’t cover buying the property and putting it back to rights.   We just didn’t have enough funds to do so.  You can imagine our disappointment. 

But even with this terrible blow (by the way it was his mother’s house), we still had this small hope that we were going to get something even better than that property.  It was a small feeling, but it was there.  and we’re silly enough to have faith in it.  So we pulled up our grown-up pants and pressed forward.

Starting another career-Real Estate

I am finally living one of my dreams and started to buy real estate.  Me and my husband will be moving into a small cottage in a month or so, but it’s been a real experience to get involved in the process of this new area. 

I have come to terms with the pain of where I am now in life and I decided that enough was enough.  I started telling myself that I was going to pursue my dreams, all of them, with no doubt sthat I’ll be a tremendous success.  Since then small doors have appeared in my life.  And I’ve strutted through them without a shock as to how they arrived there.    

Whenever something has slowed my roll, or halted my momentum I’ve fouind myself  shugging my shoulders and looking to find a way around the barrier.  I am looking forward into using this tactic often next year.

November 2012: Highs and Lows and major decision making

For the most part, this month has been a wee bit trying for me.  The low points of physical ailments (the knees you’alls, the knees) tried to overrule the high points of this month for me.  Starting to work on my next book, “The Drenching II” was making me wonder how in gods green acres did I come up with scenes and such for my first book?  It seem like this one had me scratching my head to include in this next saga in Alex Jades life.  Using Donal Maas workbook exercises, I’m a bit surprised that the story is ssslllloooowwwly fleshing out.

I tell myself to not get too upset about how slow the process is.  Even the great ones: King, Kuntz, Larsson (you put in your favorite writer here) has to give their minds and time to create their masterpieces.  and since I wrote the Drenching well over twenty years ago, I have made it my mission to make Drenching II much better.

So with life, my full-time job, my fiction writing and other plans that I’m starting in the next month I have come to a decision.  I know, I know everyone gets in this mode at the end of the year on what they are going to change and do for the next year.  But I’ve made a vow to myself to not slack in my progress.  I’m so serious in my intentions that I’m starting my plans and goals for 2013 in December of this year.

No more dreaming, no more wishful thinking.  Time for action.  I’m putting money where my mouth is.  I’m preparing myself for the long haul.   I’m pondering my next moves, researching the next few targets, rehearsing my diction and my conversations.  I’m also beginning to meditate more as well.  I need that certain space to clear my head to put in new thoughts.   It also helps with controlling physical pain in the body.

I need this.

The elections are over, now what?

With the elections finally being over, we all have felt the change in the air.  While many has expressed the need for change in their lives whether its personal, financial or both, others has become quite terrified of what the future will entail for them.

I personally stopped truly listening to critics and TV commentors about anything anymore.  All I keep hearing is frightful end of the world theories and beliefs that has terrified the average American to say, contemplate or do something that could endanger their lives and lifestyles forever.

All I know is I sense a need to make a move.  I’ve felt this feeling before many years ago and I made plans and accomplished what I needed to accomplish based on that feeling with good results.  President Obama is focusing on education and training these next four years and it will behoove anyone interested to take advantage of the opportunities that’s about to emerge.  

So it’s up to us to sit up, pay attention and leap on them as they appear in our lives.  If you can go to college and start training for a new career do so.  For others it may be time to go back to school to increase their knowledge and earning potential. 

Using a quote from the character, Capt. Will Decker in Star Trek the Motion Picture, when the Enterprise crew discovered the prime directive of the alien ship Vger, which was an old NASA space probe (Voyager 6) from 300 years ago which had been sent out in space to ”learn all that is learnable’.    We need to open our awareness a bit more and adopt this phrase because it will prove to be of assistance to us in the near future. 

There’s no more time now to dwell on excuses because of age, status or physical conditions (and I’m talking to myself as well).  After these next four years there’s no telling what’s going to happen.  So preparing for it now will be advantageous to your life.

Whether you’ve lost your house, job, benefits, money, or whatever, you have to just put your head down and keep trudging forward.  And lets stop whining about having to deal with these issues and that and it’s all so and so’s fault that you’re going through it.  Yeah,… right.

The black man in this country has worked for less and have had less for centuries.  He lost his freedom, his identity and his power for a long time.  He has since obtained freedom, such as it is in this country, but he hasn’t forgotten being used and abused behind it all.  He did back breaking work to help make this country what it is today.  He’s created inventions and discovered ordinary and extraordinary things throughout the years that everyone now takes for granted without praise and even without proper payment.  Yet only in these last fifty years has he started really acquiring the stuff others have received with less energy:  education, jobs, money, benefits, proper medical treatements, etc.  It’s hard, I know, but it’s fair.

Keep your head down and keep trudging forward.

Drenching I & II – editing and outlining

All right all ready, I hear some of you!  (smile) I’m working as hard as I can to finish the final edition on the Drenching I.  I see it was downloaded, for free, at least ninety-seven times! And that makes me very happy.  I just want people to like the stories that I write.  I know that the story being free may have something to do with it.  But I pray that the story is interesting enough for the readers to finish till the end.

I decideed three months ago to give the Drenching I one last editing before I start the next chapter about Alex’s trek back to her home planet Duniia.  As I studied the Drenching I, I realized that Alex have to go through a heck of alot more to find out who had inadvertantly killed her parents and stranded her on another planet for over ten years.  I want her hungry for vengence; hungry to learn about her family; scared for her life and others as well as scared for the future of her planet when she stumbles onto a mystery surrounding her accident that may be linked to the theft of viti crystals from off-world pirates.  Alex will make friends with human, inhuman and animal-the oldest and biggest Kadar, a cat-like creature, on this side of the planet who has sniffed out her familiar-and not so familiar-scent.

What’s getting to me is  that the outline process is going slower than usual.  I have to tell myself that I’m creating a whole new world, a whole new universe and I want things firmly in place before I really get into writing the first draft.  It’s been a bit frustrating.  But then I get this thrill inside of me and I let out a little peal of glee during the process.  Writing makes me happy on so many levels.

 

 

 

The Dark Knight Rises -Movie Review

Being a writer, I try to keep up with the upcoming movies every year because not only but I just LOVE movies, but for me they are also educational. Yet I do have my preferences. I don’t spend money on girly, sappy movies or films that just don’t grab me. I don’t care what the critics say or how many commercials I see on the subject. I wait until these appear on cable.

What I will do in a heartbeat is smack down the duckies for action packed, nail biting thrillers, that has a good storyline, good scenes, great cinematography (I know, I know, it’s a totally generic word but for what I’m trying to convey that a great movie should have, please accept this word graciously), and decent actors to make it real to viewers; whether it’s drama, sci-fi or fantasy. The reason I don’t listen to critics about movies because I think they go a wee bit overboard dissecting films. To me they lose sight on some things—like watching a movie because it’s fun and entertaining. So with all the films being done now a days by any Tom, Dick or Jane that’s handed the money to ‘make it happening’, it comes as a surprise to me when the movie turns out to be a good one.

Now the duckies I let go this time was to see the movie-The Dark Knight Rises. Now don’t get me wrong, some of the batman movies that started springing up a few years ago have been some good ones which were casted with some of the best movies stars around. But I will tell you; this was one of the best batman movies that I’ve ever seen.

Its eight years later and Bruce Wayne has retired the Cape and have become a recluse because he, 1. feels guilt for killing his friend Harvey Dent a.k.a. two face and 2. the man’s body has basically worn out from all of the physical wear and tear from crime fighting. But when a beautiful woman comes in and steals from him (Selena Kyle a.k.a. Cat Woman) while he’s standing there no less, the detective in him re-activates. As his interests is peaked, a terrorist name Bane comes to town with a mission, and side missions, that’s so fantastic and so deadly that you just can’t believe it—Especially when he actually starts getting away with it.

Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman)—This actor has done a stupendous job playing this character for which he claims was for the last time. And the film truly gives him a sendoff that won’t be forgotten too soon. He made you feel for Bruce, the pain of loss, the pain of body and spirit who still despite all manages to crawl out from some truly dark places to be the Batman we know and cheer for.

Gary Oldman, (Commissioner Gordon)—One of my favorite actors who can do a bad boy character with his eyes closed. I’m very happy that he’s somehow climbed out that hole from being type casted and went on to be in some good movies with memorable characters. His career both on and off the screen is to be commended. Hollywood should give him more awards to dust off. And I don’t think he even has the big ones in his coffers yet,..tsk, tsk.

Anne Hathaway (Selena Kyle)—Surprise, surprise, surprise. Now us die hards, that was weaned on Batman since Jesus took his stroll on water, will say all the time—and with feeling—that everybody can’t be Catwoman. But this little lady has done us women, who all secretly have a Catwoman in her, proud. She took this role and made it her own for this film. What did it for me—she made you just hate her guts. This has always been a signal to me when a movie star has done their job and done it well.

Tom Hardy (Bane)—I asked myself as I watched man, ‘just where did they find this actor’? So I did a little sleuthing on my own. While I’d admit that I haven’t seen any of the films this actor has been in, you can guarantee I now have this one on my radar; and if you know me, that’s an accomplishment.

Marion Cotillard (Miranda Tate) —Another actress that I am unfamiliar with. But she too gave a good performance and will also be under my watch in the future.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (John Blake)—I’ve watched this actor grow up in movies for quite a while now. Even as a youngster he’s exhibited great acting skills. I hope he keeps his sights clear for all sorts of characters to portray in the future. I do understand that since starting his writing and directorial debuts, in which he’s gaining good ground in, I won’t be too surprised if he isn’t seen too much on screen as time wears on. I don’t think I consider it a bad thing either.

Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox)—I was so excited to see this actor debut as this character a few years ago that I did a jig(and I’m on a cane). I claimed this actor as one of two of my personal ‘discoveries’ when I was only a wee lass of about oh, I’d say about seven or eight. When I first saw Mr. Freeman, he was teaching kids on Sesame Street about letters and words. I thought to myself as I watched this man that, ‘he wasn’t supposed to be there; that he should be somewhere else.’ Even as a small girl, who fell in love with TV. at a young age, I seen the potential in this man and that he was about to embark of a career that I was going to keep up with. So I wasn’t shocked at all that years later, he became known as one of the most sought after actors of our day. I don’t have to tell you he was good, you know he was.

So it comes down to this, if you like Batman, you will go see this movie; it’s in your blood already. If you’re not a true fan, it won’t kill you to sit a few minutes to venture in this new episode of the Dark Knight. No,.. it won’t at all.

 

 

Hot, hot, hot

It’s been so hot in my town these past few weeks.  Folks are just whining and complaining about the heat.  Personally, I found that staying cool is a easier to do than trying to keep warm.  I look at this wonderful weather this year as a heated chance to jump start my writing career.

Finishing up on an article that I sent to Huffington Post last night gave me an unusual sense of accomplishment.  I realized that I want to feel that sensation on a daily basis.  The heat helps because it keeps me warm and focus on my new projects.  And with the beautiful sunshine and all, it gives me the desire to do more.

 

 

Surpise! Someone is actually downloading my story!

Oh my.

I sat and stared at my information on the Smashwords website where my book, ‘The Drenching’ is residing for now.  So far my book had been dowloaded 47 times!  I was astonished.    All right let me take a breath. 

Now I know, that just because it’s been downloaded that many times (and it doesn’t hurt that it’s free), doesn’t mean that it’s been a joy for someone to read.  But the thought of someone actually READING my work made me pause.  Whether they quit reading at the first couple of pages or decided to slog through the entire story, it made me feel,…strange. 

I kept thinking, ‘the work isn’t right, I shouldn’t done it better’.  All these little bubbles of introspection distracted me from working on my current writing.  I couldn’t scribble a thing for a day I was so flustered—but happy.  Finally I took one more look at the number which increased in only a couple of days.  It made me want to write better, to gain their attention and hold it, to thrill them, shock them, provoke them into continuing to read until the story stopped.

Giving away my new book, ‘The Drenching”

And so the legend begins.  

I’ve been editing my new novel, ‘The Drenching’ and I’ve decided to put the finished product in PDF format where it can be easily downloaded at this site.  I want to give away this book here for many reasons.  One is the hope for my characters to be deep enough to grab an audience, and two I feel that I need to get this book out of my hands—I’ve held onto it for way too long. 

If you’re just passing through download the free book.  It would be almost a crime not to.   and share the book whenever you can.  I won’t mind.  (smile)

I just have a request; that you please send me a line about the story.  I’ll take criticism if it’s good criticism.  If you just want to rant and rave on how bad it is, I’ll read it, but it won’t help me to make needed improvements in my next project.  

Hopefully by the end of this month, ‘The Drenching’ will be ready for download.   Mark my site and return for your free copy!

Chao