YEAR OF REFLECTION

Tomorrow is my birthday!

I will be 51 years old!

Gasp, clutch the pearls; I told you my age.

Yep and I'm proud of every year and every grey hair that I have earned.

I am an author. I am (almost) a tiny home owner. I am the mother of 5 grown children and grandmother to 9 (with another set of twins coming in July) and I am polyamorus.

Some of you don't know what that word means but it means, to have many loves. In short. I can date openly and whomever I date; will know about each other.

Unlike what some of you are doing; which is called "CHEATING".

Now, not to much on that subject except this. Being a polyamorus woman means I can date whom I want but not have sex with everyone. This isn't an orgy. It's about having a great, open relationship with someone that you have developed feelings for.

Have questions; feel free to ask in the comment section of this blog.

Now, on to why I am telling you all of this.

Someone close to me, has a 'day of reflection' on his life every year on his birthday. This year I wanted to do the same.

I have thought about where I am in my life and the choices I have made and I have to say, I'm pretty damn proud of myself. 

I don't have to ask anyone for anything; except for the occasional shoulder to lean, cry or hold onto to. I have the cutest car ever! (Baby Blu Mercedes) and I am about to buy my 'dream' house. (Yep; the tiny house is my dream house)

I am an author who loves writing and speaking to others about writing and about the business of writing. 

What more could a woman ask for?

Well there is one thing I want.....

I want to be a part of the NFL draft experience . (Hopefully next year)

So I welcome my 51 year on this planet and I can say; I'm good.

Are you?

THE RIGHT #WRITING UTENSIL MAKES THE #DIFFERENCE

Have you ever been so excited about something that you just bought and couldn’t wait to start using it.

Well for me it’s all about shoes and pens. Yes, that’s right, PENS. As in writing utensils. It all started about a year ago at Linganore Winery in Frederick Maryland. I came across this woman named Sandra and she was selling pens. But they weren’t your run of the mill, average BIC pen. They were custom pens. Not like a feather and quill but with beads, spacers and charms. I fell in LOVE. She made me my first pen, the gold/silver number. Ever since then that pen ONLY goes with me to my book events. Well this past week, I saw her again. She was at Creatures, Crimes and Creativity and she had her pens. I was like a kid at Christmas! She saw me and remembered me since we share something in common and she said,

“How is your pen holding up”

I told her that I only use it for signing books at my events and she said

“Why?”

I said, “Because I don’t want anyone else to take my pen” besides, I really don’t want to leave it at work.”

She said, “well you need another pen”. 

which one would you choose?

Ahhhhhh! (cue the heavenly music)

Yes, I do! I need another pen.

So she asked me my favorite football and team and I said, Dallas and then she pointed out this blue/white/silver number and again (cue heavenly music)

I was in LOVE all over again. My hands were sweaty, my mouth went dry and my heart raced. Oh god! I must be having a heart attack. But no, I was having a ‘moment’.

For there in the small cradle, with a glowing light over top of it, was MY pen. My glorious pen! The pen I have been waiting for all of my life. The pen of my dreams….screech!

Ok, I know you must think I’m crazy or neurotic but I’m not. I’m just a sucker for a great pen!

I picked it up and fell in love all over again. Now my baby rests in the cute little pen holder on my brand new desk at work and everyone so jealous. I get to pick it up every day; hold it, feel it’s weight in my hands and watch as the ink flows perfectly from the point. When I finish with it, I wipe it down and set it down gently. (Ok, THAT could sound a little crazy)

But I’m in PEN HEAVEN!

Does this make me write better? I think so. At first I just scrawled out my name, now I take precious moments to make sure that the B and the  S and the W are perfectly created and that when I’m done, I twist the barrel and let the point slide back into its protective shell.

Yes, the right writing utensil makes for perfecting writing.

It's Christmas!

Ok, well its almost Christmas! My most favorite time of the year.

It's not just the time for shopping but for me, its all about my little village. You see; I started a christmas village about 21 years ago; when my youngest daughter was born. My husband had brought me two small houses to help 'decorate' the house.

I fell in love with the little people in the window and felt like I wanted to add to it. And that is just what I have done; every year, for 21 years. I have added one house to it, each year.

What has happened is that the little village is now a big town with Main Street, Federal Square Avenue, 2 police stations; 2 fire stations, and a strip mall. The neighborhoods have people moving in and out all the time. I also have a military base, complete with check points and did you see the cute little raccoons. Who could pass those up?

Does that sound a little crazy? Well sure it does but it only happens once a year and when Thanksgiving night comes; the 'village' comes alive and every day there is something to see. This year, Dallas opened up a new stadium! Ok, granted it is in my village but there it stands waiting for the Dec. 30th game. Oh, did I mention there is a bar; complete with drunks, and the local park where the local kids are running and playing, right along side the snowball fight. And the 50's style diner is a new established that has been quite busy since it's grand opening.

 

Take a look and tell me what you think I should add next year. (I know, you can't see all of the town, but I can't post ALL of the pictures...well I can..and will, so look for part two leading up to christmas!