Post Ideas

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I've had two ideas for blog posts in the last week, and I've forgotten both of them...
Ugh! Life is fast! So fast, I forget myself half the time.

Personal:
Just to keep you up-to-date, I ran my seventh 5K last night. Ran is debatable, but still, ran a good bit of 5K last night. This whole diabetes thing is a real pain in the you-know-what, if you know what I mean. Lows, highs, balance, energy, etc. I have to admit, I was a little frustrated as I walked most of the 5K, if only to make sure my sugar didn't drop too low. And I think I hate eating. I mean, I want to just NOT eat... especially before I run. But alas, I end up eating. And the worst??? Eating while I run. [hahaha] I know marathoners have to do it because you have to build the energy stores. And a full marathon... gotta down some kind of energy source. But this is just 5K! 3ish miles. I was really frustrated when my calves started hurting by the half mile. All these people running with me and by me... aren't they sore? aren't they tired? Am I the only one who still feels like I'm out of shape? When I feel like I should be in better shape.*eyeroll*

Ugh.

Anyway...enough about that. I'm taking the kids tonight to do another 5K, and we are DEFINITELY walking it. Strolling even...with a stop or two to smell the flowers, right? :D

Army Life:
Today, I'm taking the kids to our first Change of Command ceremony. What?!
Yes, I know. I've been in the Army--haha, I mean my husband's been in the Army for 2.5 years, and I've never been to one. So, we're going. Maybe I'll get a few pics. It's not really that big a deal... the turnover rate around here seems so high, I can't imagine they aren't doing these things at least once or twice a month. But still, there are times, I feel the kids don't get the whole picture of what being in the military or being a military family is...except for their dad is gone alot more, works longer hours, etc. This is a little special, and I've bribed them with ice cream to sit through the speeches. Ice cream and oreos, actually.

Writing:
Revisions on One Heartbeat are in full swing again. After recieving interest in the story from an editor who suggested a few changes, I'm going through it to see if I can't tighten up the story and make it better. Two major[ish] changes, though, and I hope I don't completely LOSE the editor over them, but they do fix the problem she had with the story in the first place. So we'll see. I'm actually excited about the changes, so even if she doesn't like them... by the end of the year, I'll be putting this story out for sale even if I have to self-publish it.


That's all around here.
Have a great week.
With Love,
Bethanne

Hot Ice

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I don't talk about reading very often, although it's something I do only second to writing, which of course is second to taking care of the family. So, technically, it's in third place right now. :D Convoluted, I know.

But I picked up a reread. I'm doing a lot of editing and revising this month, so it's fun to grab something quick and easy. And I found Hot Ice by Nora Roberts at the Post Library. They always have a pile of giveaway books. All sorts--fiction and nonfiction.

After reading the first chapter, I was so hooked. Hooked on the style [not surprising]. But mostly, I'd forgotten the wonderfully classic story line...of the rich and famous. It reminds me of those old movies from the 30s and 40s. Everyone sailed the world. Wore furs and watches. Smoked cigarettes and drank bourbon.

I think I would like to set aside the "real" person for a change. My stories seem to reflect down-to-earth, middle class, etc. I think I will write a short story with rich people. Just over-the-top, not a financial care in the world. Other cares, sure. They won't be flat and shallow, but...treasure hunt in Madagascar [like Nora's characters]? Sure! Why not.

Throw aside the limits that have been set. Let the imagination soar.
That'll be fun. :)

Have a great Friday and a limitless Weekend.
With Love,
Bethanne

Music Monday -- Song of the Weekend

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It's not intentional, but we listen to so much music around here, it's not unusual to get on a kick and listen to a song a few times over those lazy, long summer days. This past weekend was P!nk's Just Give Me a Reason. So, we'll start the week with it...

and then leave it behind for a while. :) Enjoy! It's a little risque, btw...in case you want to be warned...just flip a tab and you can listen instead of watch. ;) I love the lyrics to this song...


Sunday Summations

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About half way through this week, I was thinking about how the summer months are no different for me than they are for the kids. All the time, I am telling my children, make your own happiness, find something to do, discover what you want...and just do it. The point being, Mom is not responsible for your happiness.

We're a month into summer now. And I find the days I am most annoyed, most irritable, are the days, I have done nothing toward my own goals. Run in the morning, write for an hour or two before the kids get up...etc. It's not the kids' fault I didn't get MY stuff done. But it's so easy to yell cuz they are bugging me or not giving me space. "Just go find something to do," I growl. :D

Aside from working out a few kinks, summer is grand! Love the weather, even if it's a bit dry.

Writing IS happening. I finished Winter Craze and will put it away for a couple months. Better to ignore it for a while. Give it a chance to stew. I also finished revisions on Unwanted Vows and have some people reading it. I had a submission out for One Heartbeat, which was returned with a revise and resubmit letter. So, I am going to read through that and do those revisions. I'm expecting to get revision requests for my Entangled submission in the next couple of weeks, and will also work on those through July and into August.

I have plans to write a short story during this time of great revisions.
Sometimes my life is a boring story. That's never more apparent then when I try to blog about it. :D
With Love,
Bethanne

Poetry

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Walked into my office this morning, caught a glimpse of the family bible [ie Matt's bible, given to him by his parents in 1994] and thought, maybe i'll open it real quick. It's true, I pray. Probably not enough. For sure, I'm not Mother Theresa of Calcutta. I'm not even like the repentant man on death row. You know the saying about living like we're dying. Maybe it should be, Live like you're about to die on death row. haha.

Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given me;
I pleaded, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. Wisdom 7:7-8

The following lines in the chapter are beautifully written poetry about Wisdom. It's very romantic, showing Solomon's Love for Wisdom and all the good things he has because of her. So there. A little off the beaten path, Poetry...

Because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, 
and before her, silver is to be accounted mire.
Beyond health and comeliness I loved her,
And I chose to have her rather than the light, 
because the splendor of her never yields to sleep. Wisdom 7:9-10

*sigh* Poetry. I've never been a poet, never liked the poetry sessions in school. I don't often get it. I've got to be honest with you... Poetry usually goes way over my head. And that includes the deluded poetical lyrics of the 60s and 70s and 80s. But this is easy to understand. This, I can get. Maybe it's love in its simplicity. As a romance author, I get that. At the end of the story, love is the key. 

Love defines us, molds us...

and makes us absolutely crazy. And that good friends is where all the stories reside!! :D have a great weekend.

With Love,
Bethanne Strasser


Deep in the Stuff--another apology post

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I really hate these, but it's human nature to feel this urge to apologize and make excuses for not blogging...

It's ridiculous, actually. I mean, the assumption is that anyone cares. And it implies responsibility to the virtual universe, which I'm not claiming. haha.

Anyway, long time no see.

Summer is in full swing, as you can tell. I'm loving this freedom from the schedule. I think perhaps I will enjoy retirement and the empty nest phase of life. I just love not having any routine or structure. I want to sit and write as the whim calls me!!  :D I love not having to get on the road by 0700 hours in order to get the kids to school.

That's not to say that we have nothing to do...

The kids seem happy with only the usual bouts of boredom that every mother expects. We're breaking that up with activities, television, friends, outings.

On the writing note, I'm working my way through the ending of this manuscript, Winter Craze. I have another manuscript in mind to start working on, and I have revisions that I'll be working on through July. The story I sent to Samhain was well-received and they told me if I wanted to make a few changes, they'd look at it again. Whoot! That's a revise and resub. Yikes! I'm busy!

And I'm loving every minute of it.
Hope everyone is enjoying summer like I am.
Don't forget to take a moment to stop and smell the roses.
With love,
Bethanne

5K x 4

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Just a personal note today... besides being so flipping behind in blogging, I did my fourth 5K this evening. Thanks to a good friend for pushing me to it in the first place. And to my husband who, by just being his annoyingly fit self, is inspiration personified. Love you, Babe.

I met the ADA [American Diabetes Association] lady at the run tonight. They've got the TourdeCure happening on Saturday. Maybe I'll volunteer some time for that...if it hasn't burnt to the ground by then.

Say a prayer for all the people who have lost homes today. Going to be another dry, dry, awful, hot summer. It's so early!! And already the countryside is being ravaged by flames.

Speaking of flames, don't forget to come by the group blog. Through Heart-Shaped Glasses is in full swing this month, talking about loooove, romance, and WEDDINGS! It is June, you know.

Have a great week.
With Love,
Bethanne

Another One Bites the Dust

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This past weekend, my husband and I watched another badly made Inspirational Market film.  :pullhair: :pullhair: We didn't read the fine print on the back of the cover... or we probably would have set it back on the shelf. In any case, it made me want to scream!!!

It was supposed to be a movie in the line of Skulls, which, btw is a GREAT movie. But of course, they fell far short of creating a real story.  :pullhair: :pullhair:

And it just really struck me... write a good story!! Stop worrying about offending people. That's exactly why the movie was bad. They did NOT completely portray the evil this hero was supposed to be fighting...and we're talking bad spirits, control, etc. Bad guys who've been stealing and killing for 140 years. :fryingpan:

bad dialogue
stereotypes
themes you can see coming from a mile away
no sense of time
and they needed a continuity expert

People keep challenging me to read books or watch movies, claiming they break from this awfulness, but they don't. I'm disappointed again because they've sacrificed the art of movie making and story-telling for God.

  :girl1cent:
True!

Music Monday

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It's Memorial Day again in the States.
Time to remember all those who made the greatest sacrifice, giving their lives to protect our Country, our freedom. For me, I don't mind hearing people say, Happy Memorial Day. I don't mind if people go out and picnic--laugh, love, live. There were no limitations to the sacrifice. There should be no limitations to the celebration of those lives.

Each one, another life, a man or woman who died so we could live. It only stands to reason that we actually live. We remember them by living. We remember them in life.

And yes, that could mean a barbeque...
or a day hiking...
or sitting under the stars and watching fireworks.

It's not always about going to their grave.
Like Lee Brice says... the warrior we think about on Memorial Day is not there.


So, enjoy your day. Thank God for the sacrifice. Thank a veteran for all he does. And live. Because without that, the sacrifice is lost.

With Love,
Bethanne

Through Heart-Shaped Glasses

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Today I'm blogging over at Through Heart-Shaped Glasses. Please, click the little link and visit me there!! I'm talking about FIRSTS. I have thirteen of them. I probably have more, I'm just highlighting thirteen of them since it's Thursday. :D Maybe you'll learn something about me you didn't know before.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a $10 Amazon GC, as well.

I'm so excited about this blogging venture with some of the best writing partners in the world. And I appreciate all the support of my followers, too. Thanks for continuing to come by here and hear my stories.

With Love,
Bethanne