Think your home would be hard to sell in this market?

LOL!  Then count your blessings, because look what some other folks have built.  

Can you imagine a bar in every bedroom?  A jet outside the living room window?  A huge room simply for wrapping gifts?  

I can't help but marvel that these folks can't find a more useful way to spend--invest--their money.  

~~Angie

My hospital adventure

Thanks, friends, for all the prayers and kind thoughts during my unexpected hiatus.  Boy, did I learn a lot during these last four days!  

What follows may be TMI (too much information, Mom), so you may want to stop reading now. Okay, still here?  You've been warned.  :-)

I felt as fit as a fiddle on Wednesday.  Lori Copeland, my Heavenly Daze co-author, popped into town, so we went to lunch and had a great time.  About six o'clock, I had some cable guys at the house to repair the phones, and I was fine--but while they were here, I was hit with some MAJOR stomach cramps--really bad.  Knocked me to the floor, and I started perspiring so profusely that water was dripping from my fingertips.  One of the cable guys called out to me, and I yelled back, "I'm sorry, but I can't talk to you right now."  Of course, they couldn't come to me, because I was being guarded by Babe, the man-eating mastiff.  :-) 

So they left and after a while I got up and felt better, but went to bed early.  And I'll skip over a little bit here, and let you fill in with your imagination.   Anyway, at two a.m., I woke up hubby and said, "You want to take me to the ER now, or wait until morning?  It might be quieter there if we go now." 

So he took me to the ER, and I sent him home to sleep. I thought they'd just run some tests and send me home, but they admitted me.  Hubby came roaring back at five a.m., wondering why I hadn't called.  (I was trying to let him sleep!)  

I had a room to myself for a few hours, but on Thursday, they brought me a roommate--an older woman who had slipped in her tub and broken her hip. She had stayed home and self-administered painkillers she'd bought who knows where, but when she ran out of drugs, she came to the hospital.  She seemed to be quite bitter, but I tried to be nice and show a little kindness where I could. Hard to know what to do in that situation. 

My worst night was Thursday night--I had to prepare for the colonoscopy (which I was going to have next month anyway, on account of being over 50), so I had to drink that nasty stuff that purges the system.  My omnipresent stomachache got MUCH worse; in fact, lying down and giving up the ghost sounded pretty good.  :-/  I found myself in an odd situation--staring at this cup of tasteless salty solution I had to drink, knowing that a few minutes after downing it, I was going to be in PAIN. There's some familiar imagery in that, but it sounds blasphemous to point it out, so I'm going to skip it. 

 But by the next morning I felt better, and the actual procedure was blissful.  Whatever anesthetic they use, it's effective and it doesn't leave you groggy.   Verdict:  part of the intestine was inflamed, which equals colitis. What caused it? Probably an infection, virus, or . . . something.  But the doc says my 24 hour fast, plus a couple days of liquid diet should help it heal. 

Hubby brings me some beautiful roses to inspire me to feel better.  They look much prettier than I do. 

In the mean time . . . my roommate is getting angrier and angrier.  She needs a smoke, but she can't get out of bed.  Her surgery goes well, and she sleeps quite a while, but when she wakes up, she is constantly calling for our compassionate nurse, a really cool guy from Haiti.  She keeps begging for more pain killer, but they can only dispense so much.  She spends a lot of time insisting that the dispensing machine isn't working, but it is. 

By Friday, I'm feeling much better and trying to get my book club book read.  I'm also emailing my friends, tapping out messages on my phone with one finger.  Also keeping my Facebook page updated, without telling the world gruesome details.  Roommate is more antsy than ever, and keeps calling people, cussing them out, and hanging up on them.  I'm . . . perplexed.  

By Saturday, we're watching Titanic on TV, but then she begins to think we're on a boat.  I am even more perplexed.  She is even more agitated.  By seven p.m., she is screaming out the door and purely paranoid, weeping and wailing that the nurses are conspiring against her, they've been in her house, they've stolen her computer passwords.  The sweet nurses who have helped her all day are now being called . . . unprintable things.  

By eight o'clock, I gingerly get out of bed, unplug my IV pump (tenderly nicknamed "Henry", and I have no idea why, he just looked like one), and go out to the nurses' station, where I whimper, "Help."  The nurses assure me they're trying to find an empty bed for me.  As the woman continues to rant and rave and scream, they have to go in to sedate her, but she screams, tears off her clothes, and won't let them touch her.  

Long story short, they end up restraining her and giving her a sedative, which wears off LONG before it should.  By the time I'm in another room, she's screaming again, which she does all night long and when I leave on Sunday morning she's still screaming and I can hear her from down the hall . . . 

The nurses explain to me that perhaps she's an addict of some kind, because the third day is always "eventful" for those who have to go through withdrawal.  Which leaves me wondering why anyone in the world would ever think drug abuse is a good thing.  (And I know that many, many become addicted to pain killers without intending to. An awful thing, as the withdrawal is not fun.)   The sight of that woman tied to her bed and out of her mind . . . not anything I'd wish on my worst enemy.  

But when God had me out of that room, He had me fall into conversation with this sweet little woman in a baseball cap--she was keeping vigil over her husband who was in the room next door. Her native language was Spanish, and I was able to use enough of my espanol to learn that her husband was ninety-two, wouldn't eat or drink, and she was all alone and terribly worried. (And the screaming coming from next door wasn't helping.)  So when hubby came up, he went in and prayed with them, and before I left, I gave her a hug and wept with her for a few minutes.  "Jesus es con usted," I told her, and she nodded that she agreed.  If you think of her, please pray for her husband. He was having surgery for a bowel obstruction on Sunday afternoon.  (And I wish I could say my Spanish was really good, but it isn't.  Her English was great.) 

And so I left with a new appreciation for nurses and technicians and dietitians and everyone who gets to wear those comfortable smocks and provide care for others.  I witnessed dozens of acts of mercy, most of them performed with a smile.  I left my roses at the nurses' station, because they surely deserved them.  

If you are in health care, I salute you! 

But it's good to be home.  And I'm so grateful for your prayers. 

Now . . . in which book shall I use this adventure?  And can anyone tell me why after fasting for 24 hours, then having two days of broth and Diet Coke, I came home six pounds heavier?  The 2009 diet is not going well.  

~~Angie

I am in hospital. Talk to you later. ;-)

The Kissing Contest

My cousin sent me this video--and I cracked up, then felt slightly queasy.  It's hilarious.  Enjoy! 

~~Angie

That's One Clever Dog

I had an unexpected treat yesterday--Lori Copeland, my dear friend and co-author of the HEAVENLY DAZE series, was in town so we met for lunch, then I took her to my house to meet my puppies.  :-)

My dogs are (relatively) smart, but this one takes the cake.  Check out this dog who shoplifts.  

At first I thought maybe it was a pet store, or someplace where dogs routinely visit, but no, it's an actual grocery store.  LOL!  I don't blame the manager for not forcing the issue.  That was a BIG dog! 

~~Angie 

Like You Know?

Whew.  I thought I was enjoying some time "off," but Monday I set out to "kindle-ize" some out of print books (i.e., make them available via the Amazon Kindle reader), and that's been keeping me very busy.  Not only do I have to check the formatting, etc., but I keep finding words that I no longer use  much (like "suddenly") in the old text, and I'm driven to take them out!  

A friend sent me to this You Tube Video, a bit of poetry performed by a teacher. It's funny and profound, like the best humor is.  Enjoy . . . you know?  

(I'm beginning to think all the really opinionated people have moved to blogdom.)

~~Angie 

LOL! The latest Mac

This weekend I read THE HOST, an adult novel by Stephenie Meyer, the same woman who wrote the Twilight series. 

All I can say is wow.  The book is VERY different and took a little getting into, but once I got into it, I couldn't put it down.  I sat in my chair with tears streaming down my face as I read--my husband kept walking through the room and laughing at me.   

So if you're looking for another engrossing read, check it out.  It feels like science fiction, but other than the aliens, it's not, really.  It's a novel that's almost impossible to classify, but it's great.  

And now--the sarcastic folks at the Onion have outdone themselves with this video--poking fun at Apple's uber cool and at apple folks who go for the uber cool just because . . . well, it's cool.  

Check out the video here . . . and remember, it's not real.  

I think.  ;-) 

~~Angie 

An Unlikely Love Story

This video clip made me cry . . . not hard to do, granted, but still.  Ignore the silly music playing in the background and enjoy this story of Tara the Elephant and Bella the dog.  

You might want to keep a tissue handy. 

~~Angie 

A fun site

If you have any artists in the house, especially graphic artists, gather them around the computer and visit this web site.  You'll need to give it a couple of minutes to load, then you're free to drag the slider bar to any point and watch the fun unfold.  Literally.  :-)  

Who sits around and dreams these things up? 

My newsletter went out yesterday, so if you missed it, you can see it here. And yes, I know there's a typo--"Mary" should be "May."  

Just think of me as one of those Amish quilters who purposely makes a mistake in each quilt just to remind herself that only God is perfect.  :-)  

~~Angie 

Good news! Books are back!

A new report just came out from the NEA--and it's good news.  Here it is:  

More American Adults Read Literature According to New  NEA Study Literary reading on the rise for first time in history of Arts Endowment survey January 12, 2009 Washington, D.C. -- For the first time in more than 25 years, American adults are reading more literature, according to a new study by the National Endowment for the Arts. Reading on the Rise documents a definitive increase in rates and numbers of American adults who read literature, with the biggest increases among young adults, ages 18-24. This new growth reverses two decades of downward trends cited previously in NEA reports such as Reading at Risk and To Read or Not To Read. "At a time of immense cultural pessimism, the NEA is pleased to announce some important good news. Literary reading has risen in the U.S. for the first time in a quarter century," said NEA Chairman Dana Gioia. "This dramatic turnaround shows that the many programs now focused on reading, including our own Big Read, are working. Cultural decline is not inevitable." Among the key findings: Literary reading increases For the first time in the history of the survey - conducted five times since 1982 - the overall rate at which adults read literature (novels and short stories, plays, or poems) rose by seven percent. The absolute number of literary readers has grown significantly. There were 16.6 million more adult readers of literature in 2008. The growth in new readers reflects higher adult reading rates combined with overall population growth. The 2008 increases followed significant declines in reading rates for the two most recent ten-year survey periods (1982-1992 and 1992-2002). Demographics of literature readers Young adults show the most rapid increases in literary reading. Since 2002, 18-24 year olds have seen the biggest increase (nine percent) in literary reading, and the most rapid rate of increase (21 percent). This jump reversed a 20 percent rate of decline in the 2002 survey, the steepest rate of decline since the NEA survey began. Since 2002, reading has increased at the sharpest rate (+20 percent) among Hispanic Americans, Reading rates have increased among African Americans by 15 percent, and among Whites at an eight percent rate of increase. For the first time in the survey's history, literary reading has increased among both men and women. Literary reading rates have grown or held steady for adults of all education levels. Trends in media and literary preferences Fiction (novels and short stories) accounts for the new growth in adult literary readers. Reading poetry and drama continues to decline, especially poetry-reading among women. Online readers also report reading books. Eighty-four percent of adults who read literature (fiction, poetry, or drama) on or downloaded from the Internet also read books, whether print or online. Nearly 15 percent of all U.S. adults read literature online in 2008. A tale of two Americas The U.S. population now breaks into two almost equally sized groups – readers and non-readers. A slight majority of American adults now read literature (113 million) or books (119 million) in any format. Reading is an important indicator of positive individual and social behavior patterns. Previous NEA research has shown that literary readers volunteer, attend arts and sports events, do outdoor activities, and exercise at higher rates than non-readers. Isn't that great news?  Now excuse me, I must return to my book . . .  ~~Angie

Taking a Chance on Love to premier Jan. 31

It's here!  Or almost here.  You can read just one of several side stories here, or you can just tune in and watch the adventure on the Hallmark Channel, January 31st.  

(Gee, that picture doesn't give the ending away, does it?) 

Yes, there's a happy ending in store for Peyton and King, but they have to suffer through a few things to reach it.  

Hallmark is going to repeat "The Note" immediately before the premier of "Taking a Chance on Love," so be sure to check your local listings as to time and station.  And enjoy! 

~~Angie 

Glasses

I knew I was in trouble last week when I was driving and realized that I could see the road better without my prescription sunglasses.  

By the time you read this, I'm sure I'll have been to the eye doctor, as I'm waaaay overdue.  I've been nearsighted for about twenty years, but only needing glasses to drive.  I didn't realize how bad my eyes were until the last time I went for my driver's license test.  The woman finished with the man in front of me, then she told me to look into the little machine and read the three columns.  

I looked up and told her she'd made a mistake--there were only two columns visible. Did she forget to advance a slide or something? 

She smiled knowingly and told me to try reading it with my glasses on.  So I put on my glasses and--surprise!  There were three columns, after all.  Sigh. 

So for the last several years I've carried a purse full of glasses cases.  I have reading glasses for reading.  I have prescription sunglasses for driving.  I have prescription glasses for distance when I'm not in the sun.  

Lately I'm beginning to think that I need glasses for eating--have you ever noticed blurry food? 

And now I suspect that my eyes have either vastly improved, or deteriorated to the point where my near-sightedness is now far-sightedness and I just don't realize it.  Does that make sense?  

So off to the doctor I go, ready to be told that my eyes--which I value more than any other sense--are going the way of all flesh.  Aging.  

(Update: back from the eye doctor and yes, I'm not getting older, I'm getting better.  In one area, at least.  :-)  )  

How many pairs of glasses are in your bag? 

~~Angie 

Routines . . .

I've been asked to blog about my "writing routines" on another blog, so I thought I'd practice on you guys first.  :-)   

My writing routines . . . well, you've probably picked up that I'm a severely structured person.  Before I ever begin a project, I mark out the days on the calendar, cross out any travel dates, all Sabbaths, and any other days I won't be able to work, and then I divide the number of available workdays by the amount of drafts I expect the book to take--usually four or five.  Then I print out a work calendar and literally mark each day with "draft one" or "draft 2," etc.  

When I begin each draft, I print out a hard copy and divide the number of pages by the number of days available for that draft.  This gives me my editing quota.  On the first draft, of course, I'm aiming for number of words, and I usually set of a goal of writing between 5,000 and 7,000, depending on the book's schedule.  

Is that a lot?  Most writers think so, but I write fast, sloppy, and lean.  The purpose of the subsequent drafts is to fill in the canvas and flesh out the characters.  I have a skeleton outline, so I know where I'm going. 

My daily routine is fairly simple:  up early, breakfast, clean house (a chore or two per day), read newspapers, quiet time, exercise time, shower time, work time.  And I stay at work until I've finished my assignment for the day, whatever's on the work calendar.  If I spend too much time on other pursuits (email, web surfing, mindless video games), I will be at my desk well into the evening hours.  But there's so little TV worth watching . . . 

If I do finish work at a decent hour, I like to kick back and reward myself with a movie--another way to study story.  I've been a Netflix member for years and love being able to discover films I would never have found if not for the Internet.  

And there you have it--not very glamorous, I'm afraid, but a practical method that works and has enabled me to write 115 books in the last 20 years.  

Now I'm sure you can find something more interesting to read . . .   :-)  

~~Angie 

Worth watching . . . cute. :-)

 

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.    i am fighting a cold.    ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.  Less than 12 hours ago, I took a dose of Nyquill.  ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz.  

That's all I'm sayin'.  

ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. 

Angie

Cartoons for Saturday

Remember when cartoons were cute, charming, and fun?  Gather your kids around and take five minutes to watch this gem.  It's adorable.  :-)

~~Angie

Did Last Year Flash by You?

One creative guy has condensed an entire year into forty seconds.  Take a moment (literally!) to watch the passage of a year in one spot of Planet Earth.  Sort of reminds me of Genesis . . . 

~~Angie

Audi Commercial

Take a moment to watch this commercial for an Audi sports car.  It's flippin' fantastic.  :-) (Pun intended.) 

~~Angie

Dog Groomers Gone Amuck

Somebody please put these dogs out of their misery.  Please.  

These are almost as bad as those pageants for little girls who are made up to look thirty and taught to shake their non-existent hips.  

It's just not natural.  :-/

~~Angie

Be a Princess!

Have you read the books (or seen the movies) that are part of The Princess Diaries?  Meg Cabot created the books, and though I haven't read them, I thought the movies were delightful.  

She is about to complete the "princess" series, and to commemorate the conclusion, an online auction will run this month, with the proceeds to benefit teen programs at the New York Public Library's 87 branches. 

What are they auctioning off?  Tiaras, naturally!  The list of people who have designed tiaras for the auction includes Julie Andrews, Vera Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Lauren Conrad, Julianne Moore, aNicole Miller, Chris Van Allsburg, and Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece.  You can participate in the auction by visiting here.  

Come on, check out a tiara!  You know you want one!  Doesn't every woman?  :-) 

~~Angie