Breasts: An Endangered Specie
I’m beginning to think that a certain part of the female anatomy should be added to the list of endangered species. Why do I say this?
First of all, I do not wish to approach this subject from the perception of body imaging. August McLaughlin did a wonderful job on this topic already this week with her post, “Body Image: Exploring Myths & Walking the Walk.”
No, my reason for saying this has more to do with our environment, both physical and in nature. I read a review the other day about a book that was recently release by a woman named Florence Williams. Then after finishing it I thought I would share with you some of the highlights.
One out of every eight women today will develop breast cancer in their life and more than 5 million women have had implants. That’s quite a staggering statistic, wouldn’t you say?
Although I have lived among two high income communities in my life that exude all things augmented, as if a teenage girl’s rite into the throngs of womanhood should include an emboldened pair of new breasts, this is not what I wish to focus on. Yet, to those woman who have fought the fine fight and won their battle with that dastardly evil malignancy, I am happy that modern science has had a positive restorative affect on your bodies. 
It seems that whether we are man or woman, we love those glandular beauties known as breasts, yet we don’t take them seriously enough. Florence writes, “We name them affectionately, but with a hint of insult. Breasts embarrass us. They’re unpredictable. They’re goofy. They can turn both babies and grown men into lunkheads.”
Okay, those were her words, not mine!
Breasts feed us, nurture us and excite us. But the most versatile organ in the female body can also kill us. They are made up of fat and estrogen receptors— so they “soak up pollution like a pair of soft sponges.” Williams, an award-winning science writer, investigates why breasts are assaulted equally by men and a rising number of chemicals in the environment.
Ms. Williams, 45, who now has an eight year old daughter was inspired to write her book when she agreed to participate in a study of her breast milk while she was nursing her daughter. The results were shocking— her milk was full of chemicals, from pesticides to flame retardants.
Say what?
“There were reports about toxic and chemical contaminants showing up in breast milk—it was a great way to tell the story first-person,” she told ABCNews.com. “I realized there was so much about breasts people don’t know.” Now Florence worries about research that shows girls are beginning puberty and developing breasts younger, perhaps because of exposure to pollutants. “There are hundreds of chemicals coursing through our blood,” she said.
I don’t know about all of you but to me this is scary stuff. As a Mother I know that it was important to me to give my baby the best start in life and had made the decision to breast feed my children when they were born. After all, according to Ms. Williams, mother’s milk is “always the right temperature; it has the correct balance of lipids, proteins and sugars. It is medicinal, nutritious, and, to a baby, delicious.” But to find out about this chemical information I guess was just a little more shocking than I had anticipated.
Her study also includes a phenomenon not considered before: Breast milk contains a substance comparable to marijuana and is sold on the Internet in the neighborhood of 262 times the price of crude oil.
Why are we always forced to pay more for something that’s supposed to be healthy?
But her biggest concern is the vulnerability of breasts with cancer rates doubling since the 1940s. She can’t say for a certainty that chemicals in the environment cause breast cancer, but she says that the breast is the one organ in the body that is not fully developed until adulthood or even the last trimester of pregnancy.
“For many years, breast cells are interchangeable and more vulnerable and so are susceptible,” she said. Girls who go through puberty earlier are also at greater risk for breast cancer as adults. “We don’t know why,” she said.
Really?
I thought that this point was interesting: In Europe chemicals must be proven safe before entering the marketplace. But according to Ms. Williams, “We have the opposite in the U.S. and don’t take them off the market until they are proven harmful.”
The article ended this way: Advances in science give reason for optimism, but “regulatory agencies and the public in general are generally blind to where science is. Our bodies are intimately connected to the world around us,” said Williams. “If we live in an environment filled with pollution, these things will and do affect our health.”
Whatever our personal viewpoint is on this subject, I think it’s safe to say that the breasts we are born with, whether man or woman, are under assault and at risk of becoming an endangered specie. How many of us have or know someone whose been affected by Breast cancer? Or cancer period?
There’s just too many of us!
I don’t know about you, but I’m going to go re-read my article, “Sexy as a Rockstar” and start eating more of that bad boy Kale and detox once I finish writing this post!
So what do you think? What is your personal feeling about this subject? Have you or someone you love been affected by Breast cancer? And what do you think about our toxic environment? And how has it affected you?
Thank you everyone for dropping by and for all your wonderful comments!
Karen
Anger Can Be Draingerous!
Okay, hold on to your britches! There’s a misspelt word in the title!
Yes, I know. Be patient, I’ll explain in just a moment.
That’s a subject that a lot of us don’t like to talk about. It’s uncomfortable for most of us, yet it’s a part of us. It’s as much a part of us as any other emotion, such as love, hope, worry or fear.
That said, anger is not always a draingerous emotion. If used properly, anger can be an extremely productive way to encourage our determination to overcome certain obstacles or goals. So if we think of it as a controlled substance, there are times when an expression of anger may be appropriate.
It is an essential emotion that writers can instill in their characters to create great drama and conflict. But what happens when this emotion turns its ugly head and becomes draingerous? Remember, anger is an emotion that we all carry with us 24/7.
Well, first we might ask ourselves, why is there so much anger? It’s an important question to ask if we are to use the emotion of anger properly. And since the cause of most anger is one of the most complex subjects, we’ll just stick with the specifics.
There is a general consensus by health professionals today that most anger is a trigger emotion. It is a trigger that often results from injustice. It can occur when we’ve been slighted, insulted or when shown a form of disrespect.
“Anger triggers” can vary from person to person. And depending upon our age, gender or culture it may affect us differently. There are those of us who are seldom affronted, while others are easily provoked, holding on to anger like a security blanket for days, weeks, months and sadly even years.
It seems that a self-centered world is filled with the potential for such triggers of anger. Then add sensitivity into the mix and you’ve got an explosion of anger inducements from poor parental example, cramped living space, economic disparity, prejudice, injustice and bullyism just to name a few. Well maybe more than a few. But you get the point.
The urge to become angry and blow off this proverbial steam can be so overwhelming!
So how can we manage to keep this emotion of anger under control?
For several years, give or take 2,000 or more, the thought was to let one’s tension release through anger and a sense of psychological refreshment would emerge. This point of view was taken from the Greek philosopher Aristotle and later a neurologist named Sigmund Freud. They both claimed that if people repressed their negative emotions and restrained them they would develop a mental disorder such as hysteria.
Well, that’s all fine and dandy for a fictional character in a novel, but for those of us non-fictional characters, does this really work? And is it healthy? Studies have now shown that “Letting It All Out” with your anger often leaves us feeling more uptight and less relieved.
So what can we do?
1- Try to avoid doing or saying something that we may later regret so as not to trigger that draingerous form of anger in the first place. (I know, much easier said than done. But it can be done!)
2- To reduce anger: slow down and unwind. If we feel ourselves becoming overly anxious or excited and are in danger of losing it, let’s take our leave, take a walk or meditate. There is a proverb that says, “Where there is no wood, the fire goes out.”
3- Learn to relax. Follow technics that have proven to be effective in combating stress-related anger: Breath deeply with slow repetition. Immerse yourself in something that you enjoy such as reading, listening to your favorite music, regular exercise and eating a healthy diet.
While we try to put these few suggestions into practice, we might also want to make sure that our expectations are realistic. If our expectations of ourselves and others are too high, this may also lead us into a life of frustration and anger.
So remember—All of us can become angry from time to time and how we convey that anger is a matter of personal choice. If we express our anger in a more positive manner, it can be a healthy way to compose a fine masterpiece and work of art. On the other hand, if we allow ourselves to circle the drain with a more negative complex form of anger, it can prove to be, as my youngest son used to say when he was just a little guy—draingerous!
So what do you think? What kinds of things make you frustrated and angry? What do you do to keep calm and cool? Do you enjoy harnessing that powerful emotion of anger into a character? What helps you develop characters that are filled with anger?
Would you like to see more great posts like you saw today? Then I encourage you to go now! Run up to the top right hand side of the page and click on the Follow button to receive your personal copy of future posts!!!!
Thank you everyone for dropping by and for all your wonderful comments!
Karen
Appreciating Our Precious Gifts!
Hi Everyone!
Whoa…
What’s that smell?
Wait just a moment while I open up a window in here to let some fresh air in so that we can all breathe. There, that’s much better! Can you feel it? Can you feel that fresh salt infused ocean breeze from the Pacific rolling over the page?
Ah, yes…Refreshing!
Don’t mind the surfer. He’s just playing around in my backyard.
Now where was I?
Oh yes, that’s what happens when you get sick and leave a blog unattended. Things around here got mighty stagnant over the last couple weeks. Silence blazed through the pages of this ghost-like blog leaving it shattered in quiet desolation in the blogosphere. Why I’m still cleaning up all the cobwebs and dust bunnies.
Yet, with all the talk and the worry while I was away, life went on. You all kept connected, busy with your blogs, tweeting and posting on Facebook with others. I on the other hand felt like I was locked away in a cold dark dungeon and was finally set free to wreak havoc see the light. And what do I find? Myndi Shafer had her baby girl minus a gall bladder, August McLaughlin sang on her blog with a guitar (very nice by the way) and Tim L. O’Brien posted on his blog.
Say what? Tim’s blogging again? Is this still the year 2012?
When you’re forced into solitary confinement, a la infection, you make a choice as to how you might spend your days. At first you are too sick to care. Then as time wears on, you make a conscience choice: do you wallow in self-pity and depression or will you look at things in a more positive way.
I was inspired by all the wonderful encouraging posts that my dear WANA friends wrote while I was incarcerated. Because of weakness I left very few comments, but yes, be assured, I did read them. What a fine group of talented people who are willing to share a part of their lives, their world, their dreams or a splice of nature —a part of their many precious gifts.
Then I thought about how outstanding and versatile we all are and just how much our many differences make up the truly magnificent world that we live in. Some have a gift with an ear to hear and compose whimsical music. Some have a gift with an eye to see images capturing them in photos and canvasses. Some have a gift with a nose to smell and develop seductive scents and fragrances. Some have a gift of taste with a talent for preparing delectable dishes. Some have a gift with a mind able to calculate astonishing logical equations. And then there are those who have the unique capability to harness all those senses to create bright new worlds to share with the rest mankind.
Ah yes, the writer.
And for this, I am forever grateful. Grateful because if not for the writer and my new found love for my kindle, I would’ve completely lost my mind! Instead, I was able to indulge myself through the passage of wonderful stories. Stories that took me to another world, to far away places. First I spent time on a farm in northern Florida and then in a small country town in South Carolina. Then I found myself stranded on a deserted island to be finally rescued by helicopter after nearly drowning in a historical tsunami. Whew, that was a close call!
Not to mention all the new releases on Amazon over the past recent weeks from all my multi talented WANA friends. And I’m afraid that I may have missed some of them. So because I appreciate all your many precious gifts, here’s what I would like you to do. In the comment section below, please leave the name of your present novel and a brief description of your latest endeavor so that none of you will be missed. And just to even the score, let’s open this thing up to everyone, whether you’re writing a first draft or for those of you who have already published a novel.
Let’s have some fun with this. We’re all anxious to know what you’ve been working on! You all deserve the recognition! So bring it on and let’s appreciate our many precious gifts!
So what do you think? Did you miss me? It’s okay, lie if you have to! LOL! I missed all of you!
Would you like to see more great posts like you saw today? Then I encourage you to go now! Run up to the top right hand side of the page and click on the Follow button to receive your personal copy of future posts!!!!
Thank you everyone for dropping by and for all your wonderful comments!
Karen
Guest Post by Bob Mayer
Bob Mayer is here!
You know, Bob Mayer the NYTBS, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, USA Today best selling author who’s written more than 45 fiction and non-fiction books and has published in numerous genres that include thriller, science fiction, suspense and romance!
Bob Mayer who has appeared on PBS, NPR, the Discovery Channel, USA Today and has sold millions of books around the world leading the self-publish world as co-owner of “Who Dares Wins Publishing and Write-It-Forward Workshops, who sold over 400,000 eBooks in just 2011 alone!
Yes, that Bob Mayer! And he’s really here!
Oh, am I so excited!
How I ever got Bob Mayer to guest post on my blog I’ll never know. It wasn’t by force that’s for sure since Bob was specially trained in the military at West Point as a Green Beret and is also a Martial Arts expert.
I’ve been taking classes from Bob Mayer’s Write-It-Forward workshops on and off over the last six months, so between you and me, I think Bob just thought it would be a good way to get rid of me. LOL.
But honestly, all I did was ask! Right Bob?
Right.
And even though Bob teaches classes that help authors promote their books, he believes wholeheartedly that Craft must come first. And what is one of the most important things about craft that we all should focus on?
Our Characters…
So without further ado, here’s Bob!
Seven Keys To Unforgettable Characters
Think of your favorite book. What’s one of the first things that comes to your mind? I’m going to say…it’s the characters. Most people relate to people, not things.
Characters bring emotion to story, and emotion is what attaches readers to books. It took me a while to truly appreciate this fundamental truth of fiction. I remember meeting Elizabeth George in Denver while she was on book tour about ten years ago. As we dined, she kept talking about characters. How important they are. How characters develops plot, not vice versa.
Here are some of the key lessons I’ve learned about character development over the years, which I cover in more detail in my Write It Forward on-line class on character:
1. “Know the enemy and know yourself. In a hundred battles, you will never be defeated.” Sun Tzu. As I teach in Write-It-Forward, before we can understand other people, even fictional ones, we must understand ourselves. So, yes, if you’re a writer, you need some therapy. It is not normal to sit alone in a dark room and write 100,000 words. You need to understand your point of view on people and things because that’s going to come out when you develop your characters. One of the biggest breakthroughs I had on character was when I realized I was writing a character who was doing things I would never in a million years do, but I was able to have him believe he was doing the right thing.
2. Everyone one has a primary motivator. You must know the primary motivator for every character. Be able to say it in one word. Because when characters are pushed to the limit, that primary motivator is going to determine their course of action, not your decision as author. In Lonesome Dove, when Blueduck kidnaps Lori, Larry McMurtry did not have a choice as to what each of his characters were going to do. Because they were fully developed, they all acted ‘in character’. Gus went after Lori. Call kept the cattle moving north. Jake Spoon went to San Antonio and gambled. In my current WIP, my protagonist’s primary motivator is ‘loyalty’. My antagonist primary motivator is ‘honor.’ Do you see how those two motivators can truly clash and bring the fuel of a novel: Conflict?
3. You need at least three layers of motivation to your main characters. These layers are all present at the beginning of the book, but the character isn’t conscious of the deeper ones. They can be layered thus…
a. What do you want?
b. What do you really want?
c. What do you absolutely need?
4. Those layers are peeled away until we get down to that need. In the book Jen Talty and I wrote, each peeling away occurred at a turning point in the novel. JT Wilder in Don’t Look Down:
a. What do you want? Get paid and get laid. (He’s a guy)
b. What do you really want? A relationship.
c. What do you need? A relationship and community.
5. You don’t have to invent characters from scratch. If you’re not going to use real people (modified), then use what experts have developed for you. I like using variations of three templates, which we’ll cover in detail.
a. Archetypes. This is very useful for gender differences. Is there a male equivalent for slut? That always provokes good debate.
b. Profiling. I’m big on profiling because it gives you characters types that will act in certain ways. And no, it isn’t just for serial killers. You can profile anyone. Indeed, in my class, there is one exercise participants do and that is, profile themselves first.
c. The Myers-Briggs test. Many of you have taken it, but it gives you 16 distinct character types you can mine. By the way, one type, INFJ, is labeled author. The exact opposite, ESTP, is promoter. Something we focus on in Write-It-Forward.
6. Know your characters’ blind spot. We use a trait-need-flaw diagram to find that. It’s the flaw your character isn’t aware of that makes for compelling fiction and is the groundwork of tragedy.
7. Make your antagonist a real person, not a cardboard cut out. We must understand WHY the antagonist is doing a bad thing. By the way, evil is not a motivator. It’s an end result.
These are just a few of the lessons I’ve learned about character over the years that I wanted to share. You will find more detail when you participate in our Write-It-Forward on-line workshop. But after 20 years since my first book came out, I can honestly say I’ve learned more about the craft of writing over the past two years. I think the key to success for any writer is always wanting to learn more and developing skills in your craft.
I hope this will help you write more exciting Characters that will make for better stories. And Write It Forward.
Thanks Karen.
No, thank you Bob!
Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge on Characterization, showing us just how important our Characters really are as they drive each of our stories forward.
Bob’s Write-It-Forward philosophy can be seen by his many achievements and in the development of Who Dares Wins Publishing over the past two years with his business partner Jen Talty. So I’m excited to introduce to you their latest launch in self-publishing called “The ShelfLess Book!”
To quote Bob, “Whether you have been published by a New York publisher, an independent press, an ePublisher, self-published or considering all of your options, this book contains all the information you need to make an informed decision about your career as an author in today’s fast moving digital world.”
Wow, thank you Bob and Jen! That sounds like a sure fire way to success! Who couldn’t use that kind of information? It is now available through Amazon.com or Who Dares Wins Publishing.
And just in case you’re wondering what Bob Mayer does when he isn’t working?
He can usually be found hanging with two of his favorite friends!
Cool Gus and Sassy Becca! Now, who could resist that?
Bob Mayer can also be found at:
www.whodareswinspublishing.com
Facebook: Bob Mayer Author So what do you think? What impels you to write great Characters that drive your many stories forward? I’d love to hear what your thoughts are! Would you like to see more great posts like you saw today? Then I encourage you to go now! Run up to the top right hand side of the page and click on the Follow button to receive your personal copy of future posts!!!! Thank you everyone for dropping by and for all your wonderful comments! Karen
Perform in a Springtime Melody!
Don’t you just love Spring? After a drawn, dark, dreary season of winter everyone yearns for it. The days grow longer, the temperature warmer, and we begin to put a little spring into our step. We may even do a bit of spring cleaning as if dusting those wintertime cobwebs out from amongst the blustery mind-like shadows in our heads.
If we were to take a few moments to look out the windows of our imagination, what would we see? Well, since its spring, we might envision crisp clear blue skies with rolling hills covered with green grassy pastures and bright new leaves budding on limbs from ambitious stalwart trees. We might imagine bees buzzing, birds tweeting (yes tweeting), and butterflies flying in the air without care.
Yet one of the most prized possessions of the season of spring are its flowers. Yeah sure, go ahead and sneeze if you have to, but seriously, aren’t flowers part of the reason why we love spring so much? It’s like our world comes back to life and takes on a melodious color!
Take the Tulip for instance.
The Tulip was originally a wild flower grown in Central Asia. It was first cultivated by the Turks around the year 1000 AD then the flower was introduced to Western Europe and the Netherlands in the 17th century by a famous biologist from Vienna named Carolus Clusius . In the 1590′s he became the director of the Hortus Botanicus, the oldest European botanical garden found in Holland.
Mr. Clusius was hired by the University of Leiden to research medicinal plants and while doing so, he received some bulbs from a friend who happened to be the Ambassador to Constantinople (presently Istanbul). The friend had seen that beautiful flower called the tulip, (from a Turkish word for turban), in the palace gardens and sent a few to Clusius for his garden in Leiden. Then Clusius planted them and this was the beginning of the amazing bulb fields we see today.
It is in the Netherlands, far from our fictional imageries, that the most renowned display of these beautiful flowery gems blossom in a truly exceptional park called Keukenhof. Keuken meaning kitchen in Dutch, thus Kitchen house or Herb garden in English. More than seven million tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, gladiolas, and other bulbs planted each year form a glorious décor in such an abundance of colors and fragrances, why there is nowhere on the face of the earth quite like it.
Flower lovers from all over the world flock to this country’s most spectacular bulb fields. This is where you can enjoy the ultimate feeling of spring, the wonderful works of art along with its inspiring flower gardens and the best in organic expressions.
Because Poland is increasingly becoming an important market for these incredible Dutch flowers, this year’s theme is called “Poland, Heart of Europe.” Among the highlights for this year is a special exhibition of a 39-by-65 foot portrait made from 50,000 red, orange and purple Tulips that make up a mosaic of Frederic Chopin and a special theme route. Who knew classical music and romance form a whimsical combination with flowers!
So as we clear out those shadowy cobwebs of our mind from last winter, let’s use our colorful imaginations to buzz with lots of conflict and action. Let’s keep our blogs fresh with activity and tweet like birds in support of one another. Let’s write like butterflies and fly free in the air of creativity. Let’s make like beautiful flowers and perform in a springtime melody!
So what do you think? Has your mind been a bit cluttered lately? Are there shadowy cobwebs lingering in your mind from last winter? Or are you abuzz with lots of colorful creativity! Is your blog active and are you tweeting to support? Let’s help each other to be creative!
If you enjoyed this, I encourage you to run right now to the top of the page and hit the follow button to receive future posts!
Thank you for your many thoughts and fine comments everyone!
Karen
ROW80: Alive and Kicking
Op-la-de, op-la-da, life goes on…
It’s Sunday, so it must be time for my weekly check-in.
By the way, Fabio Bueno says it’s okay if I break out into a song.
But don’t worry—I’m done singing—for now.
So are we ready? Okay, here we go…
The dreaded check-in
Let’s take a look at how I did last week, shall we?…
Goals for Round 1:
1- Work on my current WIP.
This really could be combined with goal number two. But I am in the process of moving forward with both WIPs and also plotting a new story for my third novel.
Yep, still plotting and developing character arcs.
I could lie here, but I won’t. I haven’t been working at this as hard as I could be. I’m going to have to set a new goal for this one.
2- Check in with Donna Newton at WWBC once a week.
Check. I did converse with Donna via email this week. As you know, Donna is now reading my number one WIP. Last week I had said that Donna was a slow reader. Apparently Donna wasn’t reading at all. Well she was reading, but just not my manuscript. Our girl Donna, you know, the hot shot scriptwriter who has connections in Hollywood. Yes, that Donna Newton. She was handed a script to read over and it kinda bumped my project off to the side for a bit. But I’ve been told that she is reading it now. Right Donna? *winks*
3- Participate in my online class to help authors balance writing and business with Bob Mayer.
As I reported to you last week, this goal is all done. Does this mean that I get to have Ice Cream now that I’m finished? Just kidding. But seriously, I’m beginning to miss Bob a little. I, after all, have been taking one of his Write It Forward online classes since last September. It feels kinda strange not having to complete a work assignment during the week. Hmm. Maybe I’m not done with Write It Forward after all. Maybe I should see if there’s something else that Bob can do to help myself and others hone our craft. I’ll have to get back to you on that…
4- Blog at least once a week.
Yep, posted on Wednesday. And this week I decided to write about an entirely different subject altogether. I decided to write about a vegetable. I know, crazy huh? But who knew that a vegetable could be so sexy! Sexy as a Rockstar! If you haven’t already, go check it out. Its health benefits could make you feel a whole lot better!
I can’t thank you enough for all the support and wonderful comments. Some of you left some great suggestions on how you enjoy that sexy vegetable Kale. Thank you guys! You’re awesome!
5- Visit and support 5 bloggers per day.
I am happy to say that I try to read more than 5 bloggers per day. And like I said last week, since I have now visited everyone from WANA1011, I thought it would be a good goal to try to go visit everyone from WANA112, although I’m not quite sure how to get a list of those bloggers. Again, if anyone has a list or knows of a list, please let me know. Thank you!
FYI, unfortunately WordPress.com has developed a glitch over the last week and will not allow some of us to leave comments with those of you who host your blogs on WordPress. This has been very frustrating. Just know that others are reading your posts, but were unable to leave a comment. We’ve tried. Oh, how we have tried. And will continue to try. But as Kristen Lamb suggested on Facebook yesterday, let’s be patient or email WP. Please let them know how you feel about this problem so that they will fix it. Meanwhile, we will keep on reading!
6- Tweet at least once per day.
Yep, I was able to meet this goal and I’ve been busy all week tweeting to support others. And I would like to take this time to thank these awesome people for all their support and Twitter love!
@Angela_Peart @DianeCapri @_FabioBueno_ @DebraKristi @GeneLempp @DebraEve @ElaineSmothers @MarcyKenned @jenmariepowell @jhansenwrites @AugstMcLaughlin @MikeSchulenberg @SusieLindau @barrycrother @DonnaNewtonUK @WritetoPrint @ColeenPatrick @MyndiShafer @LynetteBurrows @patodearosen @NatalieHartford @PatriciaFitz @kbowenwriter @JuliaIndigo @EMitchelwriter KMHuber @duolit @Angela_Peart @wayneborean @EmilyDSteele @EmmaBurcart @ShawndraRussell @KateWood_Author @KristenNador @Jenn_L_Oliver @darairene @galeminchew @patricia_sands @SaraWFoster
I can’t believe what great support I have on Twitter! I hope you all are following these amazing people!
Thank you guys for your Tweets and Re-Tweets! I’m sending you all a big Hug!!!!
7- Exercise during the week.
I am happy to say that this week started on a better note. I got a couple of walks in and because our son and daughter-in-law were visiting, I also walked their dog. I just need to keep this going into next week.
So now I’m looking forward to a fresh new start to this week.
Oh, before you go be sure to check out these awesome blog posts from the past week that caught my eye…
The first post I want to refer you to is from Jess Witkins. I have always loved architecture and since I used to live near Taliesin west, this post perked my interest. It’s a review about a book called “Loving Frank”, Frank Lloyd Wright that is, by Nancy Horan. What a fabulous review Jess!
Diane Capri is doing a series of interviews with her friends. Ah, but these are no ordinary friends. These friends are NYTBS authors of Mystery/Thriller novels. Check out this weeks interview is with David Morrell. You know, the guy that wrote “Rambo.” Yeah, that guy.
Then I enjoyed this next post from Ginger Calem called, “Locks of Love: My Daughter’s Donation.” Well, what can I say? I’m impressed and you will be too. Go read about this remarkable young lady and what she sacrificed for cancer victims. Your daughter is truly precious Ginger!
And last but not least I want to include Donna Newton’s post on “So You Want to be an Author?”—Part Three. I know that I included Donna on last weeks ROW80 post, but this is an awesome series that she’s put together. On her post she likens social media to building a house. Donna breaks it all down into a step by step process like building blocks, walking us through several social media platforms that will give us a sound foundation.
Okay I did it. I got through another week and I’m not alone. There are others that are right beside me to help me along the way. So that I don’t irritate my wonderful supportive subscribers, feel free to delete my ROW80 posts if they start to irritate you. They probably won’t be all that interesting, unless…
Unless I can temp you all to join us over at the party at ROW80! Feel free to jump in anytime. See you there!
So what do you think? How did I do? I know I can still count on your support, right? Or you have my permission to come and give me a swift kick in the butt!
If you enjoyed this, I encourage you to run right now to the top of the page and hit the follow button to receive future posts!
Thanks guys! I knew I could count on you!
Karen.
Sexy as a Rockstar!
Okay, today I’m either going blow this post out of the water or blow your mind! Whichever the case may be, I hope you can dig it!
During the last few weeks I have visited some amazing bloggers and for one reason or another I have noticed there is a theme. It seems that some of our blogger friends have health issues. Health concerns that have caused them to be very sick with headaches, food allergies, inflammation, acid reflux, and toxins—yeah you got it—nasty stuff.
So I thought, hmm…this isn’t always a pleasant subject, but I’d like to share something amazing with you all that I think will make you to sing. Sing? Well I don’t know about actual singing, but it will definitely help you feel better. Why? Because of the incredible results from this one simple ingredient. Now don’t be repulsed when I tell you what it is. It might not be on your list of favorites, but when I share with you some of its awesome benefits, you may just want to change your mind.
What am I talking about?
I’m talking about Kale.
Kale?
Yes Kale.
Okay, here’s the skinny on our new friend Kale.
Kale is the sexiest of all vegetables. Yeah I said sexy. Why? Because it provides a rich earthy succulent flavor and packs more nutritional value with fewer calories than almost any other food on earth. And the cool thing is, it can be found in markets throughout the year with its season reaching a peak from the middle of winter through the beginning of spring when it has a sweeter taste, especially the Tuscan variety and it’s more widely available.
Like its cousins the broccoli, cauliflower, and collards, kale is a descendent of the wild cabbage, a plant that is thought to have originated in Asia Minor and brought to Europe around 600 B.C. by a faction of crazy Celtics. Curly kale played an important role in early Europe, having been an important crop during ancient Rome and a popular vegetable eaten by peasants throughout the Middle Ages. It was English settlers who brought kale to North America in the 17th century.
So let’s take a look at the benefits of this sexy vegetable, shall we?
First of all, this bad boy Kale has some of the best cholesterol–lowering benefits of any vegetable around. It has recently been proven to lower the risk of certain types of malignancy such as cancer of the bladder, breast, colon, ovary, and prostate. It is now recognized as promoting comprehensive support for our body’s detoxification system, even helping to regulate detox at a genetic level, whoa…while playing a major dietary role as respects to both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Okay, now that I’ve convinced you, how do I eat it you say?
Well if you want to heat it up, I mean cook it; you will want to prepare it properly. To do this you want to ensure quick and even cooking by cutting the leaves into ½” slices and ¼” stems then let them sit for approximately 5 minutes to enhance its health promoting properties, then steam it for another 5. Voila, you’re done.
But one of the best ways to enjoy Kale is fresh in a salad. And the most desirable trick is to give it a massage. Yes, I mean you need to get in there and give that sexy green vegetable a deep tissue massage. You can feel it relax as the leaves darken and shrink to almost half its volume. The flavor changes as well. In fact the color and texture will change and soften with its pre-massaged bitterness replaced by a sweet green melodious flavor.
Your taste buds won’t lie people. They will sing because it really is the king of the salad. And because you’ve massaged its leaves, *shivers*, it will have an amazing texture and just the right amount of sweet and bitter flavor so you don’t need much salad dressing. It’s suggested that all you need is a little extra virgin olive oil along with a pinch of salt and vinegar or lemon juice and you have a perfectly composed salad.
Now if you really want to turn things up a notch, you can juice it! That’s right. Kale gets even sexier when it’s mixed in a juice with some beets and cucumber in a carrot base. Or perhaps you might prefer an apple base instead for an even sweeter experience. Whatever the case, you can always bank on its delicious flavor along with its awesome fresh nutritional benefits. And don’t let not having a juicer stop you. Most health markets now have juice bars which makes drinking down that bad boy that much easier and affordable.
Okay, so where am I going with all of this?
It is a known fact that if we don’t feel good, we won’t be able to produce an exceptional product. We want our minds and bodies to be in sync and be at our optimum. We can do all the exercise in the world, but if we don’t feed ourselves with the proper nutrients we could be wasting our precious time and voice energy.
So think about it the next time you shop at your local supermarket. Don’t just walk on by, but grab yourself some of that Kale. Because that bad boy is as Sexy as a Rockstar!
So what do you think? Have you been in a slump? Feeling a little funky and sluggish lately? Fighting a flu or cold? Or heaven forbid you have a more serious illness? Could you be using some of that sexy Kale?
As a sidenote: Kale is rich in vitamin K, so if you’re one that’s prone to blood clots, please eat in moderation and eat lots of garlic because it’s a natural blood thinner.
If you enjoyed this, I encourage you to run right now to the top of the page and hit the follow button to receive future posts!
Thank you for your many thoughts and fine comments everyone!
Karen
ROW80: Alive and Kicking!
Today is 3/11…Wait… Isn’t that the name of a Reggae Rock band?
“Whoa, amber is the color of your energy.”
Oh I’m just being silly!
How was your week everyone? I was sick last week, so I didn’t check-in. Did ya miss me? Well I missed all of you! This week flew by fast. Unfortunately we are still dealing with Hubby’s back so that makes things a bit stressful around here, but life goes on.
And no I will not break into another song!
So are we ready? Okay, here we go…
The dreaded check-in
Let’s take a look at how I did last week, shall we?…
Goals for Round 1:
1- Work on my current WIP.
This really could be combined with goal number two. But I am in the process of moving forward with both WIPs and also plotting a new story for my third novel.
Yep, still plotting and developing character arcs.
2- Check in with Donna Newton at WWBC once a week.
Check. I did converse with Donna via email this week. As you know, Donna is now reading my number one WIP. She says she is a slow reader. LOL! So she is not finished yet. Hurry up Donna! I’m waiting here! Just sayin’.
3- Participate in my online class to help authors balance writing and business with Bob Mayer.
All done.
4- Blog at least once a week.
Yep, posted on Wednesday. I wrote a blog about how a horse can give us inspiration for our writing. Say what? I know it doesn’t any make sense, but go check is out. I guarantee you’ll walk away feeling good about yourself! I have to say that this once a week thing is working for me. I also think that it makes it easier for those who follow my blog to visit and comment. And I can’t thank you enough for all the support and wonderful comments that you leave on my site. You guys are awesome!
5- Visit and support 5 bloggers per day.
I am happy to say that I have read actually more than 5 bloggers per day. I have been reading them until my eyeballs fall out! And since I have now visited everyone from WANA1011, I thought it would be a good goal to try to go visit everyone from WANA112. Although I’m trying to figure out how to get a list of those bloggers. If anyone has a list or knows of a list, please let me know. Thanks!
6- Tweet at least once per day.
Yep, I was able to meet this goal and I’ve been busy all week tweeting to support others. And I would like to take this time to thank these awesome people for all their support and Twitter love!
@Angela_Peart @DianeCapri @_FabioBueno_@Judythe2 @DebraKristi @PrudenceMacleod @GeneLempp @DebraEve @jenjensen2 @ElaineSmothers @MarcyKennedy @MDragonwillow @SSchroeder @jenmariepowell @jhansenwrites @MelindaVan @crothhobsen @AugstMcLaughlin @BMcDowellOH @Suesan0814 @RickBylina @GingerCalem @DeborahJHughes @alanasaltz @MikeSchulenberg @RchelFunkHeller @JBLane @StacyGreen26 @MSMillerAU @AprilPlummer @SusieLindau @Ali__Dent @MerryFarmer20 @DebraEve
Thank you for your Tweets and Re-Tweets! I’m sending you all a big Hug!!!!
7- Exercise during the week.
Nope, I fell down on this one. I was sick at the beginning of the week and then, well, I just didn’t exercise. I have talked to Ginger Calem about this over at #writersbutt (I know, clever name eh?). Ginger said that she would partner up with me and kick my butt into gear. LOL!
So now I’m looking forward to a fresh new start to this week.
Oh, before you go be sure to check out these awesome blog posts from the past week that caught my eye:
Even though we all know that breaking up is hard to do, August McLaughlin put a new twist on this particular subject with her post, “Beautiful Breakups: What the Revision Process Can Teach Us.”
Rachel Funk Heller takes us all on a ride with her amazing post, “From Reader to Writer: The Driving Metaphor.” Rachel found that learning how to write is a lot like learning how to drive. Let’s just say that she’s giving us the spark that will start our engines so we can really go somewhere when writing our stories.
Then across the pond Jennifer Jensen take us for another ride. This time she’s “Driving on Irish Country Roads” with her family and it comes complete with a vlog of those perilous country roads. All I have to say is watch out for sheep and cows Jennifer! It’s all in great fun!
Now if you happen to have a techie question then Jenny Hansen’s your girl. She is a wiz on all things technical and last Tuesday she wrote a post on Linked-In called “Social Media Madness.” My sentiments exactly Jenny! It is madness, but thank you for talking some of us off the ledge!
And last but not least I want to include Donna Newton’s post “So You Want to be an Author?”—Part Two. In her post Donna helps break down the confusion by educating us on all the different genres that exist so we know where our writing fits in and what the rules are. Rules? I hate rules. But okay Donna, only because you say so.
Okay I did it. I got through another week and I’m not alone. There are others that are right beside me to help me along the way. So that I don’t irritate my wonderful supportive subscribers, feel free to delete my ROW80 posts if they start to irritate you. They probably won’t be all that interesting, unless…
Unless I can temp you all to join us over at the party at ROW80! Feel free to jump in anytime. See you there!
So what do you think? How did I do? I know I can still count on your support, right? Or you have my permission to come and give me a swift kick in the butt! Uh-oh, it looks like Ginger Calem has already beaten you to it! LOL!
If you enjoyed this, I encourage you to run right now to the top of the page and hit the follow button to receive future posts!
Thanks guys! I knew I could count on you!
Karen.
Stuck In The Mud!
What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?
This is what’s commonly known as a paradox, an “Irresistible Force” paradox.
No worries, I’m not going there.
But as an overview, a paradox is something that can seem self-contradictory or
absurd, but in reality, it expresses a possible truth.
Such was the case last week when a woman named Nicole Graham was riding her horse on the beach at Avalon along the beautiful Australian coastline just south of Melbourne.
It had been a sunny hot day and Nicole and her daughter were riding their horses on the beach like they had so many times before during the summer and had decided to ride amongst the water to cool down their horses…
Then suddenly, both horses sunk.
It seems their horses had stepped into a pit of quicksand-like mud and went straight down and under. There was thick sandy mud everywhere and whenever they moved, it sucked them down even further and wouldn’t let them go.
After much prodding, Nicole was able to maneuver her daughter’s horse out of the muck and mire ensuring their safety first before returning to her own horse, Astro. While her daughter ran for help, she prayed that rescuers would arrive in time before the tide had a chance to engulf her 17 year old horse.
Nicole said, “I’ve been riding here for 20 years and never had a drama. I’ve never seen any signs and didn’t realize it was so boggy.”
She was so relieved when she saw the dust coming from the rescue trucks. It had been nearly a half hour since her daughter had left and she had started to get overwhelmed. Fire crews and a team of veterinarians went to work. They used hoses and a winch, but none of their tactics were successful because it was like working in quicksand.
Then a local farmer brought over his tractor and after sedating the horse, rescue workers were able to use a sling to pull him out very slowly from the mud. This gave Nicole much relief after enduring a three and a half hour ordeal and Astro was able to escape with only minor bruising.
What possible truth can we derive from this remarkable paradoxical metaphor?
What should we do when we’re stuck in the mud by our own sense of reality?
When we feel bogged down as if we’re stuck in the mud, we need to harness the ingenuities and sensibilities of our friends when it comes to making improvements in how we view ourselves or perhaps in our writing for that matter.
Maybe we need help working through a new plot or writing within the confines of a certain genre. Maybe we feel overwhelmed and find this is preventing us from making further progress. Whatever the case may be, all we need to do is ask for help.
You see, we all need a little rescuing from time to time. Whether it’s a mentor or a beta-reader, or someone who will listen or give us some critique; remember—We Are Not Alone. Please don’t allow yourself to get Stuck in the Mud of despair. Just know that the writing community and your WANA friends are always there to support you because they really do care.
So what do you think? What do you do when you’ve been stuck? Have you had feelings of being overwhelmed lately? And would you be willing to give a carrot to lend a helping hand or would you be running for some help? Or both?
If you enjoyed this, I encourage you to run right now to the top of the page and hit the follow button to receive future posts!
Thank you for your many thoughts and fine comments everyone!
Karen
When Life Gives You Lemons…
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. This is a phrase that has pulled at our psyche each time Murphy’s Law is in full swing intending to motivate us as victims. And it is because of this flaw in our nature that it has become one of the best known sayings around the world, with all its variations.
But have you ever wondered who invented the phrase?
Though it is Joan Collins of “Dynasty” fame that claims the use of the expression, more than likely it was the motivational writer and speaker Dale Carnegie who really said it first since he did live earlier than Ms. Collins.
Unfortunately it was never documented when Mr. Carnegie first uttered these words, but the original quote is said to be, “When fate hands you a lemon, make lemonade” and it has transformed more recently into a more modern adaptation that is now known by the millions. It is because this phrase fits so seamlessly with the rest of Dale Carnegie’s teachings and philosophies that makes him the most likely candidate as its author.
So when we make lemonade out of lemons, it reminds us that almost anything in this world is possible. That if we take an optimistic approach when looking at things, we can expect a more positive result.
Take a look at the lemon itself. Though it starts out as sour fruit, its main use can be turned into a positive flavoring agent in foods such as fish, salads and sauces. Actually in Italy you will find that its primary growth is for the consumption of a cold refreshing zesty liqueur called Limoncello. As you drive along the Amalfi coastline there are literally groves upon groves of lemon trees hugging the vast seaside hills that surround the many cliffside villages overlooking the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea.
And if we were to travel to an area in the southeastern part of France along the exquisite French Riviera known for its infamous beauty, there is a quaint little town called Menton that makes lemon floats.
Lemon floats you say? Is that like a root beer float? Uh, no.
It seems the area that encompasses the city of Menton grows so many lemons that they celebrate every year with a “Lemon Festival” featuring floats and displays decorated with lemons and other citrus fruits. It’s similar to the floats made for the Rose Parade only with lemons.
Take a look at these lemon-laced exhibits showcased at this year’s festival event.
So when life hands you a lemon…
That is, if something were to happen to you that you don’t like…use the next time to make something out of it that you do like. Such as…
Make Lemonade!
• L – Laughter – it’s the best medicine.
• E – Embrace others and surround yourself with those who want you to thrive.
• M – Move forward with fixed focus making a tangible difference everyday.
• O – Open your mind and your heart.
• N – Notice all the things in your life to be grateful for.
• A – Adjust your attitude and expectations.
• D – Decide to challenge your circumstances and do things for others.
• E – Evaluate your actions instead of blaming others avoiding “victim” mode.
Yes, make lemonade out of the lemons in your life!
So what do you think? How do you view the many lemons in your life? When life throws you a lemon, what inspires you to make lemonade? And what do you find floats your lemon float?
If you enjoyed this, I encourage you to run right now to the top of the page and hit the follow button to receive future posts!
Thank you for your many thoughts and fine comments everyone!
Karen
ROW80
Versatile Blogger Award
Stylish Blogger Award
Kreativ Blogger Award
Liebster Blogging Award
