Priceless Moments



(left-right)
Sonny 85, Ginny 70
Harold, 72, Flora 85



For the past month I have had the pleasure of getting to know the parent's of +Austin Camacho.

Mr. Sonny and Mrs. Ginny are two of the funniest people, well besides my parents; that I know.

They welcomed me into their family with open arms but also with open hearts.

I learned so much from them but the main thing I learned was that life is to precious to 'rush around' doing things.

Mr. Sonny said, "if life was meant to be rushed, we would all be dead."

Truer words were never spoken. Mr. Sonny is 85 years young and his son just turned 60. Austin is the spitting image of his father and they have an unspoken love for one another that does not need words. It is in the laugh or the joke that they share.

Outward appearances don't matter, what matters is what is inside of a person's heart.

Mrs. Ginny is a funny, energetic woman who loves every creature. Her little dog Cuddles, is a little ball of fur with just enough teeth to eat but loves to go 'for a walk'. Mrs. Ginny fashioned a bird feeder from Cuddle's empty dog food containers and now we have "Red" and her companion coming to our backyard every day looking for seeds.

The deer also made fast friends with Mrs. Ginny because she bought them carrots. Image that! They came looking for grass or whatever they eat and hit the jackpot!

They (Mr. Sonny and Mrs. Ginny) drove here from Florida and arrived on March 28th and sadly they left on Monday after being here for a month. My heart was heavy but I was also happy to have gotten to know two more beautiful people.

My parents and Mr and Mrs Ginny are around the same age and I treasure the older generation.

I just hope that one day the younger generation realizes what they have if they still have their grandparents around; #priceless moments.

Boston Marathon

I had to write about the tragedy in Boston on Monday.

Whoever did this is getting exactly what they want.

The news is talking about 'them' every day but I refuse to.

I want to talk about the +Jeff Bauman who lost both of his legs while waiting for his girlfriend to finish her first marathon. The 8 year old, who has been described as 'adorable' and Ms.Campbell, whose parents 'are heartbroken".

Those victims didn't deserve to die in such a horrific manner, doing something that they enjoyed. Supporting their family and friends.

The memories of that day will forever be in the minds of the people who were there. We have only seen the images and seen the videos of the heroics that were done by people like + Mr. Arredondo, who helped wheel Mr. Bauman to safety.

The runners, who were exhausted but ran back with the little energy that they had left and helped the massive amount of people that were left wounded on the sidewalks. The news teams that worked for hours to cover this horrific story and the men and women of the +Boston Police department who worked into the night trying to restore calm and order.

The volunteers who stayed to make sure that many people, who left their backpacks behind, were able to retrieve their belongings.

Those are the people that I would like to say thank you to. Those people showed incredible courage and strength to the people who were running a little low.

To the people of +Boston, we salute you and we stand with you.

It's official

In two weeks I will turn 47.

I can hear the gasps now. Well, I am very proud to say that I will be 47.

Last year I didn't know if I would make it to 47 and here I am.

I am ready to get my party on.

This year has seen some major stomach issues and I have been on and off of a liquid diet for much of the year. Trust me when I tell you that I have hated every minute of it but the end of that tunnel is in sight and I am going to have my some shrimp, crabs and whatever else my little hands can get ahold of. (ok, well maybe just chicken and fish but either way, I'm going to be a happy camper when I can lick my fingers)

This has given me the opportunity to take the time to enjoy the finer things in life, like long walks and spending time with my grandchildren and yes, even writing. Nothing prepares you for life than a medical issue and nothing prepares you to deal with it like having a great support family. +Austin Camacho has been my biggest supporter and good, bad or indifferent; he has been the one guy that has stood the test of these hard times. Kiera McFadgen is my oldest daughter and although she lives in Las Vegas; she was here to help me through the hard times also. My other children, Justin, Greg, RaShaunda, Zac Jr and all of my grandchildren have shown me so much love that it warms my heart.

So on this birthday celebration that will take us into May, I am going to enjoy it to the fullest and along the way, I'll post some pictures so you can take the ride with me.

Dressing to the 9's or not so much

I had this discussion with a co-worker today.

When a woman is trying to be cute and sexy; when she crosses the line in to tramp'ville; does she know it?

My opinion is yes. How could she not.

Let's look at the look of the 60's. Shiny white go-go boots and micro minis were the rage and then came the 70's and bell bottoms ruled but the mini skirt still dominated. Then the 80's happened and everyone wanted to be in Gloria's jean or wanted to wear the horse on their...well rear. Then the 90's happened and what happened to fashion was a disgrace. Everything was too big, too low or too gawdy. Now we are in a new era. Tailored and skinny is the look.

A woman could get confused. I think through the years you have to wear 'age appropriate' clothing. Yes, the 60's saw the micro mini w/white go-go boots but you also didn't see a 60 year old woman trying to compete with the 20 or 30 year old. She might have worn that look but it was something in the way that she 'wore' that look.

Today's woman feels that she has to compete with those young women but ladies you don't have to. Be secure in knowing that men love a sexy, confident woman. Know that men want a woman that can give off confidence and sexiness without showing everything to everyone at anytime. So whether you have on skinny jeans or fitted jeans (yes there is a difference), know that you can be confident in knowing that a man will take notice.

Either you will dress sexy or dress trampy. Trust me there is a time for that...(i.e. bedroom or costume party) but

you have to pick one. Are you dressing sexy? Are you dressing trampy? Because you can't dress like both.

Is this thing on?

Tap, tap, tap,
Uh hmm, (that's the sound of me clearing my throat)
tap, tap, tap

Screech---that was the microphone.

Ok, hello, is this thing on. Can anyone hear me? Can you hear me now. Good. Do you ever get the feeling that no one is listening to you, or reading your posts or your 'status' on Facebook.

I normally talk and no one, well in my world anyway, seems to listen to me.

Now, do I get upset; no. Well ok YES I do, but that is because if people would just LISTEN to me

1. They would have known about my stomach issues a long, long, long time ago and not just think it was stress. 2. They would know that when I say something won't work, it's most likely because I have done it and I know it won't work or 3. Maybe I pay attention to what people say and knew that the cherry blossoms wouldn't be out this past weekend.

But NO, no one ever listens and for that; I get to say, "I told you so". I said the 10th but nope couldn't take my word for it, you went off and got all the way there and then said, "wow, the blossoms aren't out yet."

Hmm, tap, tap, tap. I said that, I said the 10th, but I guess I didn't know what I was talking about, now did I? Or oops..wait a minute, I DID know what I was talking about.

side note: Nope, I still would not have gone just because of prior committments but you could have spent that day doing something else.

Now, granted, even though you DIDN'T listen to me, you still had a good time. Although, if you HAD listened, you would have had a great time because the blossoms would have been...well blossomed.

Maybe next time you might just say, well maybe you might be right.

Now if you decide to do it anyway, that is on you but instead of blowing me off and not paying attention to what I say, just think; "hmm, she just might know what she is talking about".

I have come to realize that it doesn't matter if anyone listens to me; as long as I am not giving them false information.

It doesn't matter if anyone listens, right. All that matters is that I am trying to give the best information as possible.

Did you hear me?

The simple things in life....

Are Free?
Yes they are!

I have gotten so much pleasure out of the simple things. Sure it is nice to have things. Like those new shoes or that new book or that new writing pen that makes your words flow like the river.

However, those things have to be replaced when they run out of ink, go out of style or the pages get worn (or in the case of the KINDLE; the battery dies)

Simple things cost us nothing. Like a smile, or a walk in the park or just around your neighborhood.

How many of us take a walk in our neighborhood just to see things that we pass every day on our way into our own small universe called, "home".

Since the weather has been nice, I have taken a walk in my neighborhood for the past three nights and have enjoyed it very much. The first night I listened to my Ipod but the second and third night I decided to listen to nature and really see the things that I was encountering on my walks.

I heard the birds and a woodpecker, well at least I think it was and I enjoyed my walk much more. Sure music was great but having the ear buds in didn't allow me to hear my surroundings.

Yes, believe the hype. The best things in life ARE FREE.

Fun times were had by all

In the past two weeks I have had the pleasure of visiting two book clubs in my area.

On March 30th, I visited the +Essence Book Club and we met at +Georgia Browns Restaraunt in DC. These wonderfully, lively group of women provided with me laughs, insight and just plain fun as we discussed my novel.

Then on April 6, I visited The Literary Cafe with the  Delta Book Club, hosted by Cynthia Brown in Dumfries, Virginia.

You may wonder why I am telling you this.

I never thought that going to book clubs could be so much fun and entertaining.

When a book club is done the right way, you gain so much more than just having great food and great conversation. You gain more insight of your characters because the people that didn't write them will see things in them that you don't see. Imagine how I felt when they totally understand the best friend in my novel but questioned why she didn't do more to help my main character.

I had forgotten about the reaction of the father while my main character was in the hosptial but the women of Delta; knew and challenged me to explain his reaction.

Yes, book clubs and other small gathers are a great place to get your book seen, read and discussed. What other places can you think of that you can sell about 25 copies of your book, have great food and have a great discussion.

If you haven't been to a book club, you are missing out on a great time!

Family...priceless

The unabridged definition of family is described as loud, funny, will put you in your place but won't let anyone else do that, laugh until you snort and cry until you dry heave.

OK, who's definition is that? Well, it's mine and this weekend was all about family.

My family, my extended family and a few new family members paid visits during this Easter weekend.

I have been sick for almost a week and I believe that being around family helps a body heal. Well, it helps my body heal.

I smiled, laughed and stood back in looked at my children and smiled. I stood back and looked at my extended family and smiled and then I thought about my life and my life is good. Yes, my life is damn good....

Without family we all would not share the joys of family visiting from Florida or grandchildren running up to you for those jelly beans, or your children coming up to you and asking if they can spend the weekend with you; just because.

Yes, this weekend is all about family and spending time with the people we love.

How did you spend your weekend?

Ni'cola Mitchell...a hard working woman

Describing herself as "eclectic, worldly, obsessed, emotional, and inquisitive, I was able to sit down with this very busy woman for a few minutes.
 
BSW~ What year did you decide that you wanted to be published and why?

N.M~ My story is different than most because my dreams were different from most who knew that they wanted to be an author. I wanted to be the CEO of a hospital, not a publishing company. My career as an author, started as a dare by my friends and family in 2008. That's when I wrote, Over and Over Again, and then The Appetizer, When You're Not His Main Course. I lost my sister two months after my second novel and went through a deep depression and that is when I wrote, Twisted. Since then, I have released 2 more novels and this April, I'll release; Love Don't Walk Away, People Do.

BSW~ How do you balance running a publishing company and being an author?
N.M~ The biggest challenge is staying innovative. ensuring that our covers don't look like anyone else's and staying ahead of the game in marketing and promoting. I had to learn how to set a work schedule to be able to write and to give each project the same amount of attention.

BSW~ Tell us some authors that you like to read, when you are not writing.
N.M~ I'm very eclectic and such an avid reader. I like +Omar Tyree, +Kimberla Lawson Roby, +Mary B. Morrison, +Anna J, +Carl Weber, +V.C. Andrews, +Francis Ray and +Jackie Collins.

BSW~ This blog is all about shoes, books, and writing. Tell me your favorite shoe designer, book and where you do your best writing.
NM~ My favorite shoe designer is Manolo-Blahnik. My favorite book is My Woman His Wife and I do my best writing on the beach.

BSW~ In a Cold Piece, who would play Lisa Oliver?
N.M~ Hmmm, I think I would love to have Amanda Seyfried play Lisa.

BSW~ Tell my followers what is coming up for you in 2013.
N.M~ Well, I have four books coming out this year and I have several speaking engagements nationwide. I will also be on a book tour so my schedule is jam packed.

BSW~ Here are a few links where you can find the hardest working woman
www.nicolamitchell.com
www.ncmpublishing.com
http://fromthepenofnicola.com
http://facebook.com/msnicola
@msnicola on Twitter and her email address can be found here, Ms Ni'Cola Mitchell