Let it Snow...I've got a book to write

The DC area is going nuts. We're about to get hit with a very major snow storm. I say bring it on! I've stocked up on TP, popcorn, and coffee. My Christmas presents are wrapped. I welcome the opportunity to spend the weekend curled up on the couch with the first draft of "The Hunting Widow's Guide to Great Venison Cooking, Volume 1." In fact, I need a weekend to do that.

I'm getting so excited about this cookbook. I can't wait to have everything pulled together and to hand it off to my very talented sister to design.

yep, bring on the snow!

Great Venison Cooking is live!

I feel so accomplished! My cooking web site is live. I'm soliciting recipes for my cookbook, so if you have some venison recipes...or anything yummy using lamb or beef...upload it here. I'm going to draw 10 names of people who submit recipes and give them a cookbook when it's published.

Mostly I feel accomplished because I taught myself how to use joomla and joomla extensions to build the site. Not easy (not hard as web development goes, but not easy for a novice). If a real web developer designed the site, it'd look much prettier. But I'm happy with it. Check it out and let me know what you think!

I love learning

So, I'm building a web site for my Venison Cookbook and am learning the Joomla content management system in the process. I am having a blast! It has been very time consuming, and I've only learned a tiny bit of what is out there to know. But it's made me realize how much I like learning new things. Every time I get an extension to work I just want to dance around the house. (The recipe feature, for example. I'm still figuring it out, but how cool is it?).

My point is, go out there and learn something today. It will make you feel so alive!

Feeling Inspired

I saw "Julie and Julia" the other night. What a wonderful, wonderful movie. I think everyone should see it. It's such a great tale of seizing life...making lemonade out of your lemons (or venison burgers out of your venison). I came out of that movie feeling very energized about my venison cookbook, or cooking web site rather. So, now I'm busily at work making that a reality. It's will be a work in progress for a long time, but I'm hoping to have something launched by early October. I have a lot to learn, but I'm excited about it!

I really, really need recipes...I want this to be a good resource. So, if you're out there in the blogsphere and have a great venison recipe, send it to me!

Social Media...I love it

I have been having a blast the last few weeks really diving into social media. I've made a promise to start tweeting. I can be found on twitter as @SusanRose.

I'm also getting into HubPages, writing on a variety of topics. My HubPages name is RosieOne.

Soon I'll be redoing this web site. I'll keep blogging about whatever crosses my mind, but I'm also going to provide access to a variety of online stores. Should be fun!

Blogging Mania

I started another blog...what can I say, I love 'em! I've got three going now. This new one is all stories and fun stuff about dating—it's called Frog Kissers. If you have a story to share, please comment!

I also ghostwrite my hubby's blog for Rejuvenations Massage Therapy. That one actually requires me to do research and stuff.

What kind of blogs do you write?

How Time Flies

I've been in seven weddings, and attended many more. Yet somehow I didn't realize how time-consuming planning one is. And mine is going to be a small, simple one. I can't imagine what a blow-out would take.

The last few weeks have been a flurry of calling caterers and other people who help make weddings happen. There's so much to do, but it's an awful lot of fun. Like finding the right person to perform the ceremony, and looking over the vows. Very cool. Or researching where we can rent kilts for the little boys (yep...kilts). We keep imagining the day and then just smile and laugh thinking about it.

You can probably guess the impact this is having on my writing. Ha. What's writing? However, I plan on recording any and all amusing mishaps that occur during this process, and there is a good chance they'll make it into a sequel of Frog Kisser. Until then, I've got a florist to go visit!

Waking up

I think we've passed through the dark side of winter. I say this because I woke up before my alarm this morning...at about 6:15. That may not seem like a big deal, but it actually is because it means it's getting lighter earlier. I never wake up in the pitch dark without the alarm! Wahoo. This is cause for celebration.

I can now send the end of the tunnel of my winter hibernation. I actually wanted to be out of bed this morning, despite the fact I had a good reason to stay put. Next thing, I may actually start thinking of story ideas, and who knows...maybe write something! The possibilities are endless.

For now, though, I'm going to go to yoga and center my mind so I can peacefully get through this rather insane month Two Sisters Creative is having. But that's a post for another day.

Keeping My Head Above Water...Maybe

Life has become a bit of a juggling act these days, something that seems to be epedimic. Every time I talk to a friend, we compare notes on how insane things are. I won't go into the details of the myriad things stretching me in a million directions...I'll just start hyperventilating again (and no, I have no idea if I spelled that correctly).

Right now, I'm working on psyching myself up to head out in the drizzle and tackle Beltway rushhour traffic for two meetings in Bethesda. I'm looking forward to both meetings: the first is with two collegues from the design world who I'm interviewing for an article. The second is with a potential Arbonne business builder who has literally fallen in my lap. Both are things to cheer about. I just have to get through that commute first. But maybe people are working at home today to avoid the bad weather. Or maybe I'll be able to leave late enough to miss the worst of it. The drive will be pleasant, the drive will be pleasant, the drive will be pleasant.

Yep, mantras and positive self talk have become one way I deal with my spastic life. Pizza, popcorn, and chocolate are the other. I especially need to use these mantras when I know I'm not going to get to go to yoga. And today I think I'm not going to get to go to yoga. Sigh.

How do you deal with the insanity of life? I'm very curious about what people do to keep their head above water, and how they focus on healthy things rather than self destructive (self destructive being the pizza).

First Snow

Good morning! As I sit here looking out my window at the first snow of 2007 blanketing the ground, I realized I haven't posted anything in a while. Why looking at the snow made me think that, I have no idea. I have long since stopped wondering how my brain works.

2007 has started off in a flurry of activity, and I must admit my writing has taken the back seat...of a large bus. With a total lack of anything intersting to report, I've been forgetting to report at all. I can't help but feel that all the life drama happening will be good fodder for another book someday. At least, that's what I tell myself.

Meanwhile, I'm relaxing by appreciating the little things around me, like how pretty the old Oak in my backyard looks with snow on the branches.

Merry Christmas

The shopping is done, the gifts are wrapped, and the scent of pumpkin cheesecake has permeated every square inch of my house. It's begining to feel like Christmas.

Things have been a little hectic, which I guess is part of the season. My father is in town, as are my boyfriend's children. Since many of our clients' office are closed next week, last week was a flurry of activity. And, most fun for me, people have been contacting me for copies of Frog Kisser, which they decided would make a wonderful gift. (It does...and not just for Christmas ;)) Yes, it's been a nutty few weeks, but also a lot of fun. I love getting holiday cards from my friends and ready the fabulous holiday letters...keep them coming!

As I get myself psyched to start preparing the five pounds of green beans I'm contributing to dinner tonight and tomorrow, I'm hoping you are having a wonderful holiday, whichever holiday you observe. Peace, Susan

Happy Thanksgiving

Gobble gobble yum yum. That's Turkish for Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love that this is a holiday everyone can celebrate, and that it's a time for family, friends, and miscellaneous strays to gather for the day. Here in Virginia it's a little cold and rainy...perfect weather for hanging out and watching football games (which I think is what I'll be doing). And eating turkey and stuffing (horray for stuffing!). And finishing the whole feast off with pumpkin cheesecake (okay...so that's not a traditional Thanksgiving dessert. But it does happen to be the one sitting in my fridge right now as my contribution to the feast).

I hope your day is filled with family and friends and your favorite holiday foods!

Feeling the Itch

I don't know if it's the foggy morning, the approach of winter, or a need to take on yet one more thing, but I'm sitting here this morning with an urge to write that I haven't experienced in several months. Horray! Maybe I'll actually start working on another project. Or maybe I'll pour another cup of coffee and stare into space, letting my mind wander to and fro.

I feel some writing coming on though. The urge has been lurking in the far corners of my mind. I think seeing Stranger Than Fiction this weekend is what brought it to the front. I loved, loved, loved that movie. It was so clever, so well written. At first I was depressed, thinking there is no way I could ever write something that good. But then I thought maybe I could. I won't know if I don't write anything.

And now I've publicly stated my intention, so I have to do it. Thank you for holding me accountable.

Time Flies

Oh, uh, hi everyone. Seems I kind of checked out of here for a while. I didn't realize it had been so long since my last post until a few of my "fans" asked me what's going on. (Thank you "fans" for reading me :))

I'd love to say I have a great excuse for my absense, such as I was on a global book tour with Frog Kisser. Alas, that tour is not yet on the schedule. But a lot of other things are. Between working my two jobs, taking a few classes, and dating a wonderful new guy, I've been a tad busy. My writing has completely fallen to the wayside. Not an excuse, I know. But there it is.

What do you do to keep the balance and make sure things you value don't get dropped when your life gets a little hectic?