Thursday, June 30, 2011

Here I am two days in a row, can you believe it!

First let me tell you I LIED about that BUTTON for the link to THE DIET. Here is how it will work; this is the web address www.hcgbyrevele.com/ Go there and learn all about it. Then if you have questions,get back to me. You can email at rbbyrem@aol/com or call (208)604-4799-this is an Idaho number so you call me here in the islands just like you would have when I lived in Idaho. If Idaho is in your cell calling plan, then I am. If neither of those options work for you, you can comment here on the blog and I'll get back to you. If you decide to try the product use my PROMOTIONAL CODE for a 10% DISCOUNT, that code is PARADISE2011 (enter it just like that all caps,no spaces). It's a strict diet, but I have only been hungry one day and I really attribute that to stress more than REAL hunger (it was last Monday, see previous blog post for stress related reasons). The weight comes off amazingly fast and it's that "deep stored fat" that you normally don't lose. I'm waiting to see the full results, but supposedly the restructuring process leaves you looking leaner than you would after having lost the same amounts on other diets (no drawn face, flat chests, etc, etc. etc.). I;m only into this 1 week, but so far, I'm as happy as a clam.

Still working on this edit, trying hard to get through this particular round before my girls come for a visit. Rachel, Macy and Rozalyn are due to arrive one week from today and they will be here for 13 days, I can't wait, we are going to have so much fun. Hoping all goes well with their trip.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

OK, so I'm a major slacker. Let me tell you 'bout it.

This past weekend was our Branch Conference here on the island. It began with a big Service Project on Saturday at the American Red Cross. We were helping them paint and clean the place up. The morning was supposed to be carried by the Youth, so naturally I was involved, the afternoon was supposed to be carried by the Single Young Adults, of which we really don't have any. The Branch President has someone coordinate this Service Project who left for seven months three weeks prior, oh yeah, another just shoot me deal. Anyway when they were trying to get prices to have lunch catered, and no one would volunteer in a Branch Council Meeting, I volunteered so we could get out of the meeting. Well that turned into getting the prices, ordering all the food, and picking it up on the day of. This along with the fact that I had to pick up the kids and get them coordinated had me a bit overwhelmed (did I say a bit???).

Anyway...by the time we got to the Red Cross, I was grumpy to say the least. Started painting with some of the kids and they turned my mood around, right quick. It ended up being fun and it was great to see the few kids who came out have a good time and admit that they felt good about themselves. Afterward, Rick and I took some of them to the beach, there we really had a good time. Unfortunately, we got home late and I still had a lot of cooking to do for the Pot Luck Luncheon we were putting on the following day for the Mission Presidency, who were here from Puerto Rico. Fortunately, our Branch Conference Meetings on Sunday were fantastic and although I was exhausted, I felt Spiritually fed. We didn't get home from church until after 3PM due to the luncheon and meetings. I think I sat down and didn't get up until it was time to make dinner and then after dinner I went to bed.

Monday it rained hard all day. The car broke down to the tune of $450 and Rick had no work. Enough said.

Tuesday I was trying to make up for everything that I didn't do on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I really and truly intended to blog,but...

So...today I'm back, making every effort to stay true each day. But, I better warn myself right now on July 7th, my girls arrive and they won't leave until July 19th; I PROMISE that I won't miss my Wednesday diet Update Blogs, but I may be a little tied up on the other days, I try to write something but it may not be much.

I am in the process of editing my first draft of the novel and it has become the new "magnificent obsession". This is a lot harder than writing that first draft. I really have to treat it like a job and force myself to do so much or spend so many hours each day at it. I do plan to take those 13 days the girls will be here off, so that I can go back and read it like a "reader" not "the writer", Yeah right, we'll see how that works out.

Now, the part of the blog that some of you are waiting for THE DIET.

I'm through the first week, Yippee! It was not hard. I only had one day that I was hungry. I lost 11.6 pounds and 6.5 inches. YES!!!!!!!!! Now when your thinking about that weight loss,keep in mind that the first three days of this week I was trying to eat between 4000 and 5000 calories a day (I did lost 1.4 lbs during those three days, How is that possible?), so the real dieting didn't start until day 4 through 7. The only day I was hungry was Monday, which would have been day 5 of the whole week or day 3 of the real dieting part. I may have been bored and depressed as much as hungry, because if you remember that was the day of the rain, the car and Rick.

Normally, I work out 6 days a week, in the pool, well last week I missed Saturday, because of the Service Project and Monday because it rained hard all day, so I only worked out 4 of those 7 days.

My plans for this week. You bet, I'm staying with it. Planning on working out 6 days out of the 7 and going to try to add a walk three times a week. Stay tuned to see how I do at week 2. I promise I'm working on that 'BUTTON" that will take you directly to the site for this Protocol, keep checking.

Today the sun is shining. The magnificent obsession is waiting. Rick is working. The car is fixed and I lost 11.6 pounds, what more could you ask.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Sorry about yesterday, it was "cat herding" day. I almost couldn't believe it,my cats didn't need no herding. They were amazing, they knew exactly what they needed to do and they did it. Now, I think I know what is making the cats so nervous that they couldn't or wouldn't do their job. Since all the Voodoo women went back to the states or points elsewhere, the cats are taking control and it is an awesome sight to behold. Apparently, I'm more tanned than I thought.

Next up...I'm reluctant to blog about this, but I need to say some things out loud and hope that my delusion that there is someone reading this (since I average 500 hits in a 30 day period, I know you're out there even if you refuse to officially follow) will help to keep me honest and on track.

I've got another diet(of course,your not surprised, there is always another diet). I had told you before about the 4-Hour Body eating plan, well it was working and I never felt better (except on the "eat anything you want" days), but it stalled out, so it was hard to stay with. I did lose 11 pounds and interestingly enough I didn't put that right back on. Well I found something new, that expands on that plan. There is a product involved; it's not network marketing and I am not selling it BUT, I do hope to have a button on this site soon that you can click on and get more information.

This diet is strict, but it's not for the rest of your life and it is supposed to help you reset your "set point" you know that pesky weight that your body wants to go back to no matter what you do. I have decided that I know how to lose weight, but unfortunately I also know how to find it and find it fast. I need something that will help me KEEP IT OFF.

I started on Wednesday 6/22 and I am still in Phase I of the Protocol. Get this; Phase I is the first 3 days where you are encouraged to eat between 4000 & 5000 calories(that's right, no typo there), even I am having trouble choking that down, but I am giving it my best. Phase II gets a whole lot more strict, but it's supposed to be effective. Phase III is kind of the Maintenance portion. It looks interesting. It was recommended to me, by people I trust, so, if your interested, watch me work my way through it and see what you think.

I intend to devote my Wednesday posts, that will be week 1, 2, 3, etc. to letting you know (1) how I'm doing (2) what I'm losing (3) how hard or easy it has been. Then you can decide if you want to give it a try. Of course,the real test is 2 years after, if I can keep the weight off, but maybe if it works out good, you won't want to wait that long.

Keep watching for the button,should show up somewhere to the right on the blog. Once it's there just click and take a look for yourself and don't forget to tune in on Wednesday's to see how I'm doing. You get your own personal little testimonial from someone you trust, or maybe not, cause more and more it's looking like I am that person your parents warned you about.

Just so you know, today is the last day of Phase I (LOADING) so I'm making brownies for breakfast. Also, after two days of extreme loading I lost 1.4 pounds. How can that be? Whatever...I say if this is what's it's gonna be BRING IT ON!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Fortunately the weather has been beautiful. Unfortunately, I've been spending a lot of time chained to my computer working on the edit of my book. This is now become more than my magnificent obsession.

I'm feeling good that I completed the book, but now I have to get it out there and before I can approach agents or publishing houses, it has to be polished to a high gloss. At this point I have been over it so many times I'm starting to get sick of the story. Doesn't do anything for my basic insecurities about whether it's any good or not.

Rick is working his way through it and working on my punctuation and basic grammar (that would be because I have none, I just love a run on sentence. I mean why not make the whole book one big sentence, I use commas, so what's the big deal). He keeps telling me that it is amazing, but that might be a cheap ploy to get me to make dinner more than two times a week. Anyway...we are hard at it. I promise, if I get some of it to even a low gloss, I'll post it here, but only if you all promise to be honest, but kind.

I should have a little diversion this week cause...Yippee-aye-o-kayee, getting ready for some more serious cat herding. The end result of this particular round-up, probably won't be as much fun as the "Turtle Watch", but hopefully it will be as rewarding. Hoping for NOT another "just shoot me experience".

Well, enough of this. If you couldn't already tell, I'm tired, it is definitely getting on to my bedtime. Do want to mention a book I read recently that was really very good; "Looking for Alaska" as YA novel, kind of a gentler "Catcher in the Rye"for those of you from my generation. On second thought, maybe it wasn't any gentler, maybe I'm just older, kinder and hopefully more gentle.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The Summer Solstice, longest day of the year, longest day of your life in 2011. Are you feeling it? Are you living it? I'm reading this book (when am I not reading some book), about a kid at a Prep School in a Religions of the World class. The instructor is teaching Buddhism and he talks about living in the moment. Made me think; Am I living in the moment?

You know, not waiting for what will happen when..... Are you thinking, when I have this...When I am this age....When my kids do this....When my kids are this age....When I retire....When I have enough money...and so on, and so on. Well people. Those times never come, if you are not living in the moment, enjoying the now, being present for your life...YOU ARE MISSING IT!

Sometimes, I have to stop myself and give a little shake so I can come back to the here and now and get on with it. I want to experience it all, even the pain and not miss a minute. Life is a classroom. All we are going to take with us, when we checkout of this life, are the relationships we make and what we learn (a little secret "babsism" ~ we learn from those relationships, there is something you can learn from every personality you meet)when I think of the people, who taught me, all I can say is WOW.

Rick and I are currently planning a trip to the Greek Isles (it's where the next book takes place,and you know the "write what you know" stuff. I have got to go there). Anyway, Rick keeps wanting me to look at the place on Google Earth, I refuse. I don't want to do anything virtually - I want to do it really. Live life "out loud" and as"big" as possible, that's me.

Back to that Summer Solstice thing. I love this time of year. Herein the Caribbean the days don't lengthen out like they have some of the places I have lived, but it doesn't matter, you know it's happening, you can feel it if you try. I have some friends who are supposed to be in Peru at Machu Picchu on this very day, and to them I say WOO HOO, "stand on that mountain top and celebrate life. This life is all you have and it's a time to prepare; as good as it gets the best is yet to come.

One week ago today; Rick told me I was formidable. I hope so

Monday, June 20, 2011

AWOL again for two days, but this time I have a good excuse, well an excuse anyway. Saturday, we had a big day planned. Cooking all morning to have my food ready to take to the Annual Father's Day dinner at the Branch. Edited quite a big of the book, while Rick was on terminal hold with HP, in who knows what country, trying to get a replacement keyboard for our laptop. We decided to take a quick trip to the beach, before we had to go to the dinner that night.

Wonderful time at the beach, as usual. We left to come home, drove about three miles down the road and I was seized, that's right, I said seized, by the most horrible headache. Felt and acted like a migraine, but I have never had one come on so sudden,no warning, no messed up vision, nothing, just sudden blinding pain. I was immediately sick to my stomach also. I must have dozed on and off,most of the way home, because I have absolutely no recollection of that trip. When we got home, I remember thinking, I would surely puke when I tried to get out of the car, but I guess I didn't. I must have made my way downstairs and peeled off my swimsuit and got into bed. I really don't remember any of that, but when I woke up at 9 that evening. My swimsuit was on the floor, and I was in bed with about two pounds of sand.

We had a load of food for the dinner and Rick had invited a friend from work to go with us, so he had to go. Apparently he had a conversation with me about it and I grunted something about leaving me alone anyway, so he went and came back around 9, shortly after I woke up. Of course, I was hungry and of course, he didn't bring me anything from the dinner, so he made me a grilled cheese sandwich and I went back to bed. The next morning, I still had a residual headache, much milder than the first, but I was afraid it would come back with full force so Rick went back to church alone. I went back to bed and slept for another 4 hours. Spent the afternoon, laying around dozing on and off, and still had a faint headache.

Finally late last night I did make Rick a nice Father's Day Dinner, we visited for awhile and then went to bed, where I slept another 9 hours. Today, I feel fine. I'm thinking that maybe it was some sort of virus, you know the kind that attacks your weakest part. No shock there, that in my case that happened to be my brain.

I have go to get some work done today. I have got to get this book edited, well at least I have got to get through the first self-edit and onto to the next. I am having trouble staying focused. My brain wants to start on the next book, is that crazy or what. I wish I had the thousands of dollars it would take to turn it over to a professional editor. Except, I'm having a hard time turning it over to Rick to read, let alone someone who will probably rip it from one Sunday to the next.

I just finished reading a self-published ebook that was pretty bad. Went against absolutely everything, I have learned in my classes. This is a book by a guy I met on twitter,where authors shamelessly "hawk their wares", anyway, I'm thinking he had a good story, but he needed some education about writing. At the end of the book, in his short bio, it says he has a degree in Creative Writing, from UC/Boulder; are you kidding me? This is not helping my insecurities.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Sorry about yesterday, thanks to those of you who keep me honest and look for me daily.

Yesterday was interesting. I had a friend come over and help me clean. Yeah, that's right. I did pay her something, but we worked together. These knees of mine can't take being pressed into the tile floors here.

I have spent the last few months getting to know this woman and I like her, but it wasn't until yesterday, spending quality time together that she really told me about herself. She seems older than I had thought,not by her looks, more by her "street smarts". Yesterday, she told me her mom is sixty-two, that was interesting. Her Daddy, died almost twenty years ago from Aids (the needle and the damage done) and when she was growing up momma was a cocaine addict. She was raised in the "projects" of New York. Before Daddy died, he did introduce her to her Vietnamese half-brother and his mother; momma wasn't too happy about that. She did have some snatches of happier times growing up when she was with grandparents on a family farm in the Carolinas. I also know her ex-husband, he's a nice man who is trying to get his life together, but if I have to talk to him for more than five minutes at a time, something really bad could happen. She and the ex were also heavily into drugs at one time. She finally got tired of his womanizing, so they split.

After that encounter, I couldn't help but think of one of my dearest friends in the states. Her dad died when she was a teenager, leaving her mom to raise her and two little boys. Shortly after H.S. she married, had a baby boy in the first year, and almost immediately after that,her husband left to go overseas (that pesky Viet Nam War again). She comes home to raise her son, work and live with mom, grandma and the two younger brothers(this the the point in her life when we meet). Husband makes it home safely, or at least as safely as any of the boys,no matter where they were stationed, came home from that "conflict" and they return home, settle down where husband becomes a cop. Another son and the pressures of life reach an all time pitch. Husband wanders, she forgives him and they raise three fine boys into good men.

Oldest boy goes to college, get good education and marries Cinderella (not exactly, but I was at their wedding, it was a fairy princess dream). Their lives are safely on track, Mom can breathe a little easier over that one. Middle son, who is a little more flamboyant, shall we say, goes on to break the heart of every female in his path. Another good man out for a good time.

Baby boy wants nothing more than to grow up and be a soldier and a policeman, so he goes out and makes it happen. He joins the U.S. Army, learns how to jump out of airplanes, while they are very high up and going fast. Goes onto serve in the DMZ in Korea and in Bosnia. After coming back to the states he meets the girl of his dreams and marries her, he then gets around to telling mom about two weeks later, I think he also mentions her bi-racial baby boy at that time. This good man accepts her baby as his own son and they go on to have one more son. When he is ready to leave the military, come home and make a place for his family, he finds out she isn't. They divorce. Not letting his broken heart or life in general get in his way, he goes on in pursuit of his dream and become a police officer in an affluent suburban community.

In the meantime, as if girlfriend doesn't have enough to worry about; Middle son, also joins the police force of a not so affluent, much more dangerous suburb.

Baby boy works hard and does good. He supports his sons and has them spend summers with him and mom and dad. Something is missing, maybe it was all that jumping out of fast airplanes, maybe is was the "action" he had already seen, maybe it was just how he was made, but he wasn't happy until he became a police officer in one of the largest, most dangerous cities in the states. After the academy, of course, his assignment was the most dangerous neighborhood in said city. Baby boy is living his dream and he meets the woman he hopes he can spend the rest of his life with. They marry (I was at that wedding and it was a joyous day, he was so happy), have a tiny daughter and I do mean tiny. Born premature she was only a little over two pounds. After months in the hospital and medical bills in amounts that could fund the next space project, they bring the baby home and look like they are going to have as normal a life as a cop and his family can.

This kid is my Godson and you can probably tell that I love him. He used get off work, have a few and call me, around 2 or 3 AM my time, just to tell me he loved me, then he would assure me that he had also called his mom to tell her too.

One morning, while cruising the streets with his partner, hoping to make his little part of the world a safer place, he's killed. That's it, the end of a really good life. But, take a minute and think about it, could you ask for more; living and dying, doing exactly what you wanted.

Girlfriend carries on with a hole in her heart that will never be filled. During this time Middle Son has a pretty steady girlfriend that some think might be the one; little did they know. After his brother's funereal he's a mess and feel he needs some time when he tries to break up with said girlfriend she tells him she is pregnant. These are people in their thirties, so it looks like somebody knew exactly what they were doing. Being the good man he is, he tries to make a go of it with her. Although they never marry,he accepts full responsibility for the baby girl born to them and really tries hard to make a home for both of these women. The strains of motherhood prove to me too much for this girl and what used to look like someone out for a good time when they were single, starts to seem more like alcoholism in a young mother at home with a new baby.

Baby boys ex-wife decides to move closer to girlfriend and her husband, so her boys can be closer to their grandparents and she can have some help. His widowed wife goes completely off the deep end and refuses to see girlfriend and her husband, taking their granddaughter out of their lives also.

Situation with Middle son and his girl deteriorates to the extent that she is in and out of rehab so many times, they think of installing a revolving door. She now exhibits mental problems that are probably the cause of her drinking and becomes more and more irrational. They split and after reported neglect of the little girl, Middle Son begins a custody battle for sole custody of his daughter.

As if girlfriend doesn't have enough to worry about, Middle Son now wants to join the police force of that big bad city. Everyone, secretly prays he is not accepted into the Academy. Not only is he accepted, but he excels. His mentally ill "baby momma" is bent on revenge and makes so much trouble with false accusations and allegations that the police force take advantage of his probationary status to let him go, rather than deal with her and the ensuing problems. There he is with mounting legal bills, child support to keep up, a big mortgage and no job.

After enough money to fund a space project and a half Middle Son wins custody of his little girl. He's back at work having started out as security in one H.S., where he works himself up to head of security for the entire school district,seeing over four schools and implementing new innovations to keep these kids from killing each other. "Baby Momma" has supervised visits of little girl and does everything she can to make every one's life as miserable as her own. Little girl is caught in the middle,loving her daddy and wondering why momma doesn't seem to like anybody. This guy, remember him "good man out for a good time" has turned into the more incredible dad you can imagine. He does little girls hair, sees that he is dressed to the nines and takes her to the salon to have her fingers and toes polished. He sees that she eats right and isn't too spoiled. It's obvious that his life revolves around her.

But, alas, he too needs more. He finds another dangerous suburban police force that will gladly accept all the experience and training that he has to offer and is back "on the job". Baby momma still looks for a crack that she can get a pry bar into, but he has covered his bases pretty well.

Mean while, girlfriend deals with Baby Boy's Ex on a regular basis,helping out with the two, growing up fast, grandsons. The Ex is a nice woman,who hasn't had a whole lot of good examples in her youth. She drifts from man to man continually having her heart broken. In one of her relationships, with a man she men over the Internet, who is only about two thousand miles away, she starts making plans to marry in a few short months. Girlfriend tries to caution her and gets that old familiar feeling of "spitting in the wind". When that falls apart,she is devastated. Everyone tries to help in some way, but she will have none of it. Next up on the horizon of this families life is her Lesbian relationship.

Oh yeah, you read that right, I said; Lesbian Relationship. Before anyone gets all uppity and thinks I'm going to start moralizing on this subject. I'm not. But I want you to look at girlfriends life up to this point. Consider that she is a true "baby boomer" and look at everything she has had to deal with. Maybe then you won't judge HER too harshly, when I tell you that this is not easy for her and husband.

Well, just when you thought that Middle Son might be able to get on with his life; he gets caught in the politico wars that are forever just beneath the surface in this large metropolitan area. It seems someone on that school board where he worked, someone influential in hiring him, has aspirations for higher office, and someone else wasn't too pleased about that. He's being taken down by the press, it's nothing personal mind you, they really want to get at his former boss and keep him out of the political race, Middle son just happens to be the vehicle they are going to use.

The saga continues...

Now,sit back and take a look at your life and hold it up to the mirror of these two women. The first I've only know for a few months, so the picture is shorter and not so vivid but tragic none the less. The second I've know for over forty years and unfortunately, I've been way to close to some of this tragedy. I want you to know that these are not totally unhappy, helpless and hapless women. They carry on and carry their families through. They will continue doing this as long as they are needed. These women are formidable.

And I write fantasy fiction. Are you kidding me?

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Feeling a little naked right now. Just put the beginning of my book out there for some folks to read and critique, particularly my current instructor. It's scary to let those words go out on their own. I hope they look both ways before they cross the street. I hope they don't miss me too much. I really hope no one is mean to them or hurts their feelings too much.

I bet you think I'm talking about my children, no it's all about those words that I have put together hopefully into a story that will take your imagination and set it free. I hope, I can entertain you and make you think. I hope you will cry and laugh out loud. I hope you will want to keep turning the pages and not put it down. I hope you will become engaged with my characters and really get to know them. All of these things happened for me as I wrote this story.

I started out doing this because I always said I would. When I took a few writing classes, in my current "let's go back to college phase," I felt compelled to try. Eighty-five thousand words later I actually wrote a book. Even I'm surprised. It is an absolutely incredible story, now I hope I'm a good enough writer to tell it the way it deserves to be told. I started out thinking that this would be my part-time job. That if I could sell it, I could help Rick bear the burden of our well-being. Today, I don't care if it sells, although that would be nice, I really want people to love it, get involved with it and hopefully get "My Message."

Those of you who know me, know that I absolutely love the sound of my own voice; as in I love to talk. Well this is a different type of voice and I love the story, but the telling of it makes me nervous. Let me get some feed-back from the professionals and maybe I'll print a bit of it here. Takes a little bit more courage to let it go out into the big bad world.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Just another one of those days. Tied to the computer editing, this is definitely not the fun part.

YW Activity tonight, Sis Macedon came in and told us all about the National Guard. It's hard for me to imagine, but this is truly a viable option for the kids on this is land, and I'm talking about the girls. We have got to come up with something better. Some days there are too many things that break my heart.

Monday, June 13, 2011

I want to start out tonight by apologizing to any and all of you who read my blog. I was reading some of the blogs that I follow, particularly those that are by editors and writers and everybody's advice is to practice your skills whenever and where ever you write. By the looks of my normal blog posts, I have not been doing that. I have been really sloppy. Sometimes that's because it is late and I want to get the information down, sometimes it's because there is so much to tell and sometimes it's because, well because I'm just being sloppy. So, I'm going to try to be better, I'm going to practice my craft here as well as everywhere I write.

Today, I went with a Realtor to look at another condo. It is in the same complex, but another building. The unit was not as nice as the one I live in, but the owner is willing to fix it up. I should say that he is willing to have us fix it up, but I'm not exactly clear who would pay for the fix up. There are two drawbacks to this unit; First, there is no washer/dryer and Second; it's a really long walk to the pool and an even longer walk back from the pool and all of that is up hill.

Rick doesn't even want to consider it, he thinks I won't be happy there. The rent would be a little cheaper, but I'm not sure if it's cheap enough to make up for what we would have to give up at this unit. I hate these type of decisions.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Thank Goodness for Sundays! I'm not sure I could make it through each week without the battery recharge of Sunday. My responsibilities at the Branch keep me busy, so it's not a total day of rest, but the Spirit does refresh me to a point where I think I can get through another week.

The Branch is so small, we each make the rotation to speak about once a quarter. Today Sister Dye was up again. I just love that woman, she never fails to sing us a solo during her talk and the Spirit is so strong with her, you can't help but feel uplifted. Next I had a pretty good lesson with the Young Women. They are finally opening up and talking freely with me, about lessons and other things, so I think we're making some progress. Finally,my favorite activity of the month Branch Council. NOT, I would rather do almost anything than attend this meeting. It is painful. In fairness to the St. Croix Branch, I have to admit that in any Branch or Ward I've been in ,in my travels, where I have had a leadership calling that required me to attend these Council Meetings, they are always painful. I suppose this is for my good also and I am learning something, but it is still hurts. OUCH!

Time to go fix dinner for my husband, who told me yesterday that he's getting bored with all the eating out that we are doing. My answer to that would be "Bummer honey. If I gotta herd cats and you gotta eat..."

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Sorry to those of you who have missed me. finished the book earlier this week and then slept for almost a full day, I was exhausted. Now all I have to do is read the thing about 200 times and edit, edit, edit. It will be fun?

I spent the second half of this week "herding cats". I'm the Young woman President in our little Branch here on St.Croix and having a weekly activity for these girls and getting them there can be real interesting. They really want to participate, but nobody has rides, their parents either don't have a car, car is not working, or parents are working. So I also get to be the bus service. I don't really mind, the kids are great, but some weeks I'm worn out.

This week we had a joint activity planned with the Young Men, we don't have a YM President at the Branch and our Branch President is spread a little thin and really doesn't understand the youth program so you guessed it, I get to plan all of that also, The second counselor in the Branch Presidency, is great,he will do whatever I tell him and is a big help (that would be Rick,of course). Anyway, after numerous texts, back and fourth, trying to find rides for everyone and getting them "to the church on time", we took ten kids out to Sandy Point, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge here on island, last night. We had to be there at 7:45PM and were told to plan on staying until Midnight (Yeah, I know, my dream come true, being on the beach until midnight with 10 teenagers). We were on a Turtle Watch. This is the time of year that the giant Leatherback Sea Turtles come onto the beach in the night to lay their eggs. go go out and sit in the sand and wait, hoping to get lucky and actually see one. They have a Research Team who patrol the beach and will call you if they have one come ashore and then you hike down to the spot (the beach in the Refuge is 3 1/2 miles long) and hope you get there in time to see something.

So, last night they take us onto the beach and we sit down and our guide starts giving us the spiel about the Leatherbacks, the Research Team passes us by and we are told they didn't find anything but will make another sweep in 45 minutes. After less than 15 minutes on the beach we see a Giant Sea Turtle emerge from the water and make her way up onto the beach about 30 feet to our right, we are told to be very still and nobody can believe our luck that she came up so close to the spot were we were waiting. Then one of the kids says, "isn't that another turtle"; and sure enough another turtle emerges from the water and starts coming in our direction, she did veer to the left and planted herself about 10 feet to our left. within the next 5 minutes a third turtle started to emerge from the surf, this was phenomenal. Unfortunately, the third turtle thought better of it and returned to the water.

These creatures are magnificent. It was a most incredible experience to sit there quietly in the moonlight, 10 feet away from this totally awesome creature and experience a miracle. The Fish and Wildlife people try to remain pretty cool about the whole thing, but even they were in awe of the fact the the turtles came up so close to us. Once the turtle starts to lay her eggs and believe me there is a whole process of her digging the whole and getting everything situated before this can happen, she goes into a trance and were were able to go over and touch her and see her more closely. You cannot imagine! I don't have enough descriptive adjectives to describe the experience. You really have to see and experience this for yourself.

Back to having 10 teenagers on the beach at night. They're kids, and kids will be kids, but these kids are different. They are appreciative, kind and caring. They are totally in awe of their surroundings. They take care of each other and the leaders. They are polite beyond measure. Before we went onto the beach and were waiting at the parking area, I'm handing out water bottles and asking if they they one: one kid with his ipod plugged into one ear, with the hip-hop playing so loud, I can hear it, says to me "Yes, please. Are you kidding me. I didn't want to, but I am loving these kids and I guess I'll just have to add cat herding to my resume.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Official one year anniversary in the Caribbean. Yeah! Went to the beach late this afternoon (Rick had to work today) and out to eat at one of my favorite restaurants eat ( that's the name of the restaurant ~eat~.

Friday, June 3, 2011

More than a few Random Thoughts tonight. Today is a big anniversary for Rick and I~One Year here on St. Croix in the VI. I know that I have said this before but I wake up almost daily and wonder just exactly what I have done that is so right, that I have the opportunity to live here. We are both lovin' life. There are sacrifices, sure, but the rewards far outweigh them.

I was certainly fortunate 32 years ago to marry someone who would become my best friend. Someone who, like me, is always ready for the next adventure. There are days when we laugh and say "what a long strange trip it has been" but, I wouldn't trade a minute of it. Don't get me wrong everything hasn't been easy and there are still some bumps ahead, I'm sure, but I have to say "Life is Good!"

We're celebrating again tomorrow, because if you go by the date that is our actual anniversary of arriving on St.Croix June 4th (sorry about that sometimes I write like English is NOT my first language), but it was a Friday when we got here,so we celebrated today also.

To my family, friends, aquaintances and anyone else brave enough to drop in here I sincerely wish you a life filled with adventure. Don't be afraid to step out into the darkness, whether you know it or not, you carry the light within you.
It'slate again and I'm tired again,thought I should check in with myself and put something down here just for me. I am 64,054words into my magnificent obsession. Earlier tonight, in the pool,Rick asked me if when it's finished would I be able to put it aside for a while and take a break or will I then be obsessed with editing it. Good question! The answer might depend on how much more he can take.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

It's late and I'm ready for bed, but I thought I really should blog at least a little. Having a hard time having clever random thoughts, but lately I have to admit that I have a new appreciation for the life I am able to live, for my husband and his willingness to be onto the next adventure, for the places and experiences we are having and for the friends we are able to make along the way.

This life is so that we may have Joy. Are you having Joy in your life? Is there enough Joy? Are you spreading Joy to others? If not, take another look.