It's all in the family...

Getting older and you start thinking. This can be a very dangerous place to be. I am sticking with my resolution that 40 is the new 20. In fact, I’ve stopped counting at 39. As for what happens after that, well, it’s anyone’s guess.
I’ve always been a hopeless romantic. No wonder why I’d choose to write romance. I need ‘happily ever after.’ But am I the only one? I need a handsome hero willing to walk through the fire for his ladylove. I need that ahhh when he sweeps her into his arms for that earth shattering kiss. And if I’m not writing steamy romance I am sure in the hell reading it.
I remember when I first thought about writing a book. I was twenty-one years old. I had just had my third child, yes I’m a young mother, and I had that one heart stopping moment when I realized that I had a lot to say.
It didn’t take me 20 years to write a book, thank goodness. In fact, I had written five manuscripts prior to One Enchanted Evening. I had also written short stories, some poetry, and I kept a journal.
My very first story was heartfelt, and written, rewritten, probably a good five times. I remember when I began writing it I didn’t have a title. In fact, I didn’t have a title for that story until it had been completed and when it came to me I had been sleeping. That same story had been written longhand. I soon graduated to a typewriter but that entire story had been written in a notebook. I must admit that I’ve come a long way since then. Talk about writer’s cramp.
Writing was my sanity in a world that I believed to be mixed up. I took care of three children in the sticks (PA) and after I put them down at night I would sit with my notebook in hand and I would write well into the night.
This writing thing definitely runs in the family. My father is a song writer, what is a song, but a short story. My sisters, both write in some form, whether its short stories, poetry, or screen plays; my brothers, likewise. I am waiting for my children to get the bug. Joey has it in him to write, he just needs to dig deep inside and pull it out. Mark is the artist; He has been drawing since he was five when he placed a piece of paper onto the window to trace something. I had asked what he was doing and he said he was tracing a picture. I told him to put the paper back down on the table and draw it the way he seen it and he’s been drawing ever since. He actually did the cover art for One Enchanted Evening and Jackie, well, maybe Jackie was meant to be on the editing end because she is a great help to me with that. She seems to have an eye for words that do and do not go together. She has no problem telling me if my ideas are fantastic, mediocre, or are just plain out there. I respect her opinions as she is well within the age group in which I am writing, what better source is there than that?
I try to write something every day. Whether it’s a couple of words, a sentence, or a couple of pages it is important that I get something down. Lately one of my biggest problems is time. There is never enough time in the day. Today, I’ve made a new resolution. I’ve had to do the same where the gym and exercise was concerned. I need to work my brain just as importantly as I need to work my body. So, for the next hour I am going to complete both of my blogs while rocking to Bon Jovi. Not a bad deal, if I do say so myself.

Are you Green?

I've been steadily Going Green for some time now. Call it Going Green, Recycling, Environmentally Friendly, I think you get the picture. Lately I have been considering a Compost box but the only thing stopping me is the unwelcome visitors that might decide they want to move in. I'm always looking for greener ways and quite honestly if everyone did just a little bit to help the environment we can make a difference.
I recycle anything that can be recycled. Plastic bottles, cans, cardboard, magazines, paper... and so forth. We need to share ideas. Sometimes it can be something as simple as not running the water while you're brushing your teeth. Believe it or not, some people don't think about it but bring it to their attention and they will be more conscious of it the next time they are doing it.
I have watched people driving on the parkway and tossing their trash out the window as they go. Why can't they put it in a trash receptical when they reach their destination? There are some people that will throw anything out the window. From cigarrette butts to dirty diapers, I have seen it tossed out the window without any regard. I've seen signs posted against littering but I have never seen anyone actually get a fine for tossing their garbage.

Here are a couple of tips and hopefully you can add to the list.

1) If possible use cloth napkins instead of paper.
2) Use silverware instead of plastic throw-aways.
3) If you must use disposible plates, use paper and not styrophone.
4) Don't run the water while washing dishes.
5) Don't run the water while brushing teeth.
6) Reuse brown/plastic bags for shopping. You get a couple of cents when you do and you also save a tree. You can also buy the cloth bags that the supermarket offers. They are durable, and you get double what you'd get for a regular bag.
7) Use Green Friendly cleaners, they are so much safer all the way around.
8) Reuse packing material/boxes instead of throwing them away.
9) Junk mail can be recycled.

Welcome to my "Blog Bandwagon"

So, I wanted to jump on the "Blog Bandwagon"!! I've blogged on MySpace, Author's Den, even over at Sandra's Stuff. How many rants can one person have... In my case, many. So, I'm moving on and I'm moving up. Come and find me. It won't be difficult. I'm working on a new short story that I may put up in installments.
Writing is my passion. Whether it's blogging, poetry, short stories I put my heart in all of it. Please check out my contemp romance titled One Enchanted Evening available through Trafford. Don't be shy, let me know what you think!