Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Steam


I just saw a fabulous show this past weekend that my niece, Emily is in.  She is on this poster, the lower left corner.  She plays the leader of the aliens and the leader of the Morlocks (looks like a post-apocalyptic biker gang).  She was in most of the scenes, and did most of the acts.  I was and am amazed at her talent and her energy!

Emily has been performing here for about 10 years, and does everything except clowning (I hate clowns!).  My favorite act in the show is the wheel of steel, which is terribly dangerous but I can see why she loves to do it. 

She wants to go professional someday, and I hope that she does.  I know she has the talent for it.  She has worked so hard and suffered through so many injuries, yet she doesn't give up.  She is a tough person, not one to mess with!

I am so proud of her, and I hope she knows how much I love her.  We are not a demonstrative family, and I know that even though Emily and are so similar in some ways, in other ways we are very different.  But I still love her and am amazed by her.  

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Pain Update


For those who may not remember, I have had traveling chronic pain from my elbow to my index finger for three years.  At first, I thought it was due to smartphone use, but now I wonder if it is from my car accident about the time the pain started.  Nevertheless, I have seen three doctors about it, along with having a cortisone shot, physical therapy, braces, x-rays, nerve conduction tests, and neck MRI.  All the tests were negative, and the shot and PT didn't help.  I see a final doctor this Friday, one who has helped my family with their pain, and I hope she helps me because I am tired of living with this pain.  It is the worst when I am trying to sleep, driving, typing, or doing nothing.  If you could, could you please pray?  I know some of you live with chronic pain as well.  Mine is minimal compared to yours I am sure, but I am tired of it and tired of not getting any answers.  Thanks for reading!  

Friday, July 20, 2018

NORTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE


I went to this conference last weekend.  I loved it!  I was inspired to begin writing again.  I took two seminars on getting my work published, and another on coping with the rejection and failure.  The woman who taught that wrote an excellent book that I am reading now, a fiction taking place during WWI.  I so enjoy reading Christian fiction because there isn't gratuitous sex, violence, or swearing.  Those things aren't necessary in a good story.  I figure if you need all that then you must not have a very good story.  Not that mine are great.  

I was encouraged in remembering that I was offered a contract three years ago for my memoir.  I kind of regret not taking it.  But I was focusing on my new career as an ESL teacher, and my dad just had his accident, and to be honest, I was scared.  I never imagined that anyone would be interested in my story.  So I think I will try again.  I need to edit it and look into sending it to publishing companies again.  I have some ideas percolating in my mind, it's just a matter of getting it done.  It will be a while though, with the other stuff in my life, but at least I have something else to do in my free time.  I actually miss writing.  I guess maybe I needed a break.  So we shall see  I also have to find help for my sore arm and hand.  But I will write about that in a later blog.  My arm and hand are sore.   

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

First Drawing


This is my first drawing that I completed in my art class.  It is a copy from another drawing.  It is quite a process of first tracing the picture on a clear plastic large grid sheet with a red pen, then drawing on large grid paper.  Then I used a calligraphy pen to trace the picture.  It took me about 5 hours.  I so enjoyed doing it.  Partly because it doesn't involve my left hand and arm that are often sore.  I'm quite pleased with the results.  It feels good to be successful at something.  And it is relaxing.  Even if I make a mistake, I can erase it and it affects nobody.  I can keep working on it until I get it right.