What to do?

One of my faults is that when I have a story/article/book out at a publisher's, I have trouble focussing on writing anything else. How unprofessional of me! How can I be a writer if I don't write? So, I have three projects on my plate: MXME is the novel mentioned in an earlier post; Stepping Stones is a non-fiction book I did for my second ICL course. It's been around to a few agents and publishers, but no bites--just nice rejections. Nice rejections are nice, but they aren't as nice as acceptances. Besides, I have some problems with the book myself. I can think of several ways it can be improved. So that's the second project I've been tinkering with. The third is not a children's book, but a religious non-fiction one about the psalms. I now have four memory sticks, one for each book including the one at TouchWood Editions. Today in one of my email messages I get from writers' lists there was a very good idea. That is to challenge oneself to write a certain number of words every day and keep a record of it. So, I've inserted a page in the front of my private journal and labelled it "Daily Word Count". I'll list the date and the number of words written (in one of the above projects) and see if I can do better than I have been doing. I'd also count query letters, if I actually write any.

health stuff

Everything happens at once. A couple of days ago, I had an appointment with my physician to get a referral letter for my ophthamologist. By the way, I said, I had been bitten by a nasty bug. So I had to go to the emergency room at the hospital to have it checked further. My hubby had come along because he had a rash that the doctor should look at. And a sore finger. Would you believe that meant he had to go to the emergency room, too. For the rash. For the finger he got an appointment with a plastic surgeon! Well, we know all about emergency rooms in Vancouver hospitals. So first, we went to have something to eat and to pick up some reading materials. Yup. Four hours at emergency. Don't know what my hubby got out of it, but I had my blood tested THREE times! And a prescription for antibiotics against a possibility of Lyme disease. And I have to contact another doctor about it. But that's not all. No, next day I had to get into see the dentist due to a throbbing toothache. Then to another dentist for part one of a root canal. So if I haven't blogged much, now you know why.
Oh, and those antibiotics: I can't have any dairy or calcium within 2 hours of taking the capsules (1 twice a day). So meals and pills are a real juggling routine. Grrr. I'm not used to having health issues. Don't like it. :(

definition

Someone asked me what "MS" meant in the blog about the kindergarten. It stands for Multiple Sclerosis, a debilitating disease that seems to come and go with attacks when the person is tired or not well, and then goes into remission. Sometimes that remission is total and the disease seems to have gone away, only to rear its ugly head when the person is in a weakened condition. That's why I'm glad my friend is taking this rest. It's necessary.

kindergarten cancelled

Unfortunately, the kindergarten teacher of the class I love to visit, has taken ill and will be off until next September. The teacher has MS, and I worry about her. I hope this time of rest will be enough to build up her health, and I'll get to be with her class next year. She's probably the best teacher I've ever seen in a classroom. Her patience and skill are unparalleled. She's kind and loving yet firm with the children. They know exactly what is expected of them, and as a result they excel due to her guidance. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be in her classes over the past five years, and I look forward to joining her again next year. I pray for her strength and good health.

profession

At 5:30 pm, Saturday, May 30, 2009, at the Vigil Mass of Pentecost, I was professed into the Third Order of the Society of Saint Francis. Many of my friends and family members asked me what that meant. It's quite a long story, and is best described in the link provided on the left hand side of this site. For me personally, it means an important milestone on my Franciscan journey. Sometime back in 2004, I think, I got interested in the Order, and my husband and I began to look into it, attending a few of the Fellowship meetings and asking questions about it. This was called being an "Enquirer", as seems appropriate. After sending a long autobiography of my spiritual journey and answering a number of other questions on the questionnaire the Order sent me, I received a number of booklets and sheaves of papers of Franciscan formation instruction, and was received as a Postulant. Every month for two years to the best of my ability, I sent in a report to my formation counsellor and visited with my spiritual director, as required by the Order. This was longer than usual, due to family difficulties (two deaths, one of my grandson by drowning and then my son from cancer). Eventually I was invited to apply to be a Novice. I did that, and continued with the monthly reports and spiritual director visits for another two years. Last February, the Order elected me to profession, but I still had one more step to take: Being admitted to the Order at a ceremony in the context of a Eucharist service. This was fulfilled last Saturday. My family and friends supported me in full force. Some drove long distances to attend the service. I was very grateful to all of them. After the very beautiful service (in the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament in St. James Anglican Church, Vancouver, BC), we had a small reception in the Bishops' Room in the church, followed by a family dinner (20 people) at a restaurant. So now, I get to affix the letters TSSF to my signature.

children's safety tips 2 & 3 & 4

The second tip on the RCMP site is that parents and caregivers should always insist that very young children hold the caregiver's hand continually while walking to and from stores, play grounds, etc. Older children must remember to stay very close.
The third one is similar, in that children must not wander off, not even play hide and seek. But if the child gets lost or separated, he or she must know to tell someone "with a name tag" such as a cashier or security guard (preferably a woman).
Fourth, children should be encouraged to travel in groups, and use the buddy system. (I would warn that travelling in groups isn't always safe. Someone could go missing and not be noticed for a long time.)

children's safety tips 1

In the RCMP website (try http://www.rcmp.grc.gc.ca/ and go on looking for children's safety tips) there is a list of about 15 tips for keeping children safe. Today is, apparently, Missing Children Day, and so this list is how to keep children aware of how they might help themselves if they are in danger. On the news tonight there was an event when kids could have a booklet put together with all sorts of personal information, such as blood type, finger prints, a lock of hair, etc., to help police if necessary. Parents are advised to carry this "passport" everywhere, even when travelling. I'd think it might be a good idea to have a second copy of it in a safety deposit box.
The first tip for the children is that they should all know by heart their full name, address, telephone number, and their parents' places of work and contact numbers. I was rather alarmed a year or two ago when I found that my youngest grandson did not know his own address. I'm sure he didn't know contact numbers or work places, but I didn't ask, so I could be wrong. And this is only tip number one!