What does a perfect day look like to you? I don't have one vision for this. It really depends on my mood and "where I'm at" on that particular day. Today, a perfect day looked like me and Rick going out to lunch and to see Guardians of the Galaxy (finally!), then bringing supper home to watch college football. It's been a while since we've had a completely free Saturday, and it was great having the freedom to do whatever we wanted - or nothing at all! We've been so busy lately that it was great to have a day to not be bound by housework, yardwork, or a schedule. 

Sometimes it's hanging out with family and friends, like it will be over the next couple of days for us. Sometimes it looks like going out shopping, like I did on my birthday last Tuesday. Or going to the secondhand bookstore on my lunch break, then coming home to a good supper, a bath, and Star Trek - The Next Generation reruns like yesterday. Sometimes it's staying home to write and read and goof off online, then cooking a good supper. Or it may be watching movies or college football games and ordering a pizza. Or going to a craft show, or a gun show, or doing both in the same weekend like typically happens to me one weekend in November each year. Or going out to a nice supper. Or a vacation or weekend getaway. That's one good thing about not having strong preferences. You can find joy in countless ways. 

The good news is that we have a long weekend to find perfect days in lots of ways, so take advantage of it. This weekend for us is about getting rest and relaxing. What's it about for you?

That's all today. Take care, and have a great Labor Day weekend. 

Bye!

Another thing I’ve learned during the past year and a half is the value of finding healthy ways to cope with stress and the emotional issues related to it. It’s easy to fall into bad habits, which can make things worse by putting you in a self-defeating cycle that put your health (mental and physical) and relationships at risk. Here are some ways I’ve found to cope with the days and times that try your soul:

1.       Exercise.  This is the #1 way I’ve found to work off stress and to help me relax. I feel better mentally and physically when I get on the exercise bicycle or walk regularly. I also find that I sleep better, I have more energy, I feel stronger, and I don’t tend to get sick with every passing virus so easily. It’s definitely better and better for you than a pill or a drink.

2.       Writing. Blurry was written based on recurrent dreams I had while Rick and I were building our home. Anywhere But Here was written based on knowing several people struggling with depression, and a conversation they had when they crossed paths one day. Splinter, Move, and Obsidian were written based on major life changes I went through a few years ago, and the subsequent adjustments I had to make. And I don’t think it’s any coincidence that I started the rough draft of Fracture five days after my father-in-law passed away and five months after losing my parakeet to cancer. For every major novel I’ve written, I can give you stories of how I used it to help myself cope with what was happening in my life at the time. Somebody recently suggested to me that people who don’t want to talk it out usually write it out, and this is actually a great way to work through what’s going on in your head. If fiction isn’t your thing, then you can journal privately, or blog about your thoughts and experiences (you can blog publically to get feedback, or you can do it privately if you don’t want to release it online). I’ve been “writing it out” since before I knew it was a coping mechanism, and I believe this is a great way to work things out.

3.       Hobbies. I believe we all need something that is ours and ours alone, that we do purely for enjoyment and no other purpose. In addition to writing, I also enjoy reading, but there are countless other hobbies that give you joy and a purpose beyond the requirements of daily living. From gardening to cooking to decorating to artwork, there are many ways to find creative outlets in your life.

4.       Moderate Socialization. As tempting as it might be to hide away from the world, it’s actually good for you to get out there some. That doesn’t mean pack your schedule, which is why I say “moderate.” You still do need some time to yourself, but not every minute. Take some time to talk on the phone, have lunch with a family member or a friend, or go out to the movies or an activity you enjoy. Get out there in the world and stay connected, because you tend to find strength and inspiration in times, places and people that you least expect.

5.       Volunteering. If you’re a member of a church, then there are countless opportunities to volunteer to help out the congregation or the community. Whether you serve on a committee or sign up to help with an event, it’s good to help out other people and/or people you don’t know. The best way to get your mind off your troubles, after all, is to help other people with their needs.

Of course, I would add to this list to seek therapy if you are really struggling. There’s no shame in this and in fact, I once saw a therapist to help me through a trying season of life and I still say it was the best thing I did because what I learned still benefits me years later. It can be a great help to have somebody removed from the situation to give you a new perspective and to guide you to new and better ways to handle situations. This can be especially helpful if everybody in your “inner circle” is involved in whatever is happening and is emotionally connected to the situation. Sometimes, one set of eyes from the outside can be a tremendous help.

Sometimes blessings come in the least expected ways, so keep your eyes open for opportunities and look for good, healthy ways to deal with whatever challenges come your way.

That’s all today. Take care, and have a great rest of the week.

Bye!

There's no doubt that the past year and a half has been tough on us. It seems it's been one challenge after the next. Still, I can't say that the valleys of life are without their merit. You do appreciate the blessings you do find along the way, and there's a lot to learn from them. Here are a few things I've learned from the going getting tough:

1. Take one day at a time. If you focus on your lousy luck or being in a "bad season of life," then it makes things worse. Yes, bad things come and bad days happen, but if you get stuck in a mindset then you'll be defeated far longer than necessary. The best thing you can do is what is possible for you to do today. Then you don't need to worry about tomorrow, because you've done all you can and that you will be supplied with what you need to face it when the timing is right. 

2. Let things go. Live long enough, and everybody and everything in your life will disappoint you, go wrong, or piss you off. You must have the discernment to know what's an abnormal aggravation to ignore, and what's a serious problem that needs to be dealt with. The truth is that we waste a lot of energy going to the mat for things that will pass in a moment, and trying to sweep things under the rug that would be better dealt with sooner rather than later. Here's a good tip: if it passes out of your life, then it's best to let it go and focus on what's still around. Don't let quitters, offenders, and minor irritations rock your world when they'll be on their way faster than lightening. In other words:

3. Act, don't react. Knee jerk reactions rarely make the kind of positive impact that you really need to make life better. Take the time to consider things and decide the best course of action. This goes double for times when emotions are charged and running high - you just can't make rational decisions in that state of mind. Be realistic enough to know yourself and how you typically react, and take the time to stop yourself and ask if what you're about to say or do is in proportion to the situation. It's not easy at first, but it does become more routine the more you do it. 

4. Don't be afraid to ask for help. You really do need to be careful here and make sure that you don't do it indiscriminately, because people are more likely to give you a pass if you don't ask for one all the time. Still, it's alright to say "I need to sit this one out" or "I need a helping hand here" if you're overwhelmed and there's no alignment of Heaven and Earth that can make what needs to happen become a reality. We all do need to bail out sometimes. And remember: the grace you give is the grace you get. The  more willing you are to help out others in their need, the  more willing they are to help you. 

5. Change your thinking and you can change your world. The power of positive thinking isn't just new-age mumbo-jumbo; it actually works. If you dedicate yourself to finding the best in any situation and learning from it, then it's much easier to get through the tough times. Even if you find yourself sitting in a room planning a funeral, you can take comfort in knowing that this is temporary and life will go on and return to normal in time. Nothing lasts forever, and you can usually take something from it, whether it's a lesson, helping others, improving life, or planning for the future. 

6. Be grateful for your blessings. No matter how bad it gets; it could be worse. In regard to the previous suggestion, the best way to change your thinking is to choose to focus on what's right in your life instead of what's wrong. Even if your life is in shambles, the best way to rebuild it is to pick up the pieces that work and start putting them together into something new - and the sooner you start that process, the faster you'll find ourself out of the valley and on the mountaintop. 

7. Stop believing in luck. Frankly, that's a cop-out. I get irritated when people ask "why do bad things happen to good people?" when if they were truly the Christians they proclaim to be, then they'd know that The  Bible says "time and chance happen to us all" (Eccleasiastes 9:11). I don't believe in luck because that places you at the whim of fate and can make you a bitter person. Instead, believe it's God will or it isn't. It's easier to cope when you believe a Greater Power is in charge instead of blind forces converging where ever. 

8. Mind your own business. Nobody's going to take your advice on how to fix their life if yours is a hot mess, so don't bother. Tend to your own matters, and give others the grace to be who they are. If they're adults, then they have the capacity to take care of themselves and their own affairs, so trust them to do so. Plus, not everything works for everybody. All paths may run ill and there are no guarantees that what works for one will work for another. Truthfully, I stopped giving advice years ago, and I find I get along with people a lot better since I broke that nasty habit of spewing out unsolicited advice and opinions. 

9. Stop Muti-Tasking. That's a trend that needs to die. Just as "a jack of all trades is a master of none," so too is it impossible to do several things at once well. I actually found that I'm a lot more productive when I focus on completing one thing at a time, because I make fewer mistakes that I have to go back and correct. Do one thing at a time, and group like tasks together. Focus is the key to accomplishing more in life. 

10. Remember that all things pass in time. C.S. Lewis described "The Law of Undulation" in his book The Screwtape Letters. This states that life is a series of ups and downs, peaks and valleys, and you're always at some point on the wave. If things are good, then you're at a peak so enjoy it. If you're in a valley, know that the only place left is to go up and find hope in that. Nothing lasts forever and in fact, the nature of the universe is change. Stop fearing it, and you may find that your greatest achievements come from the things that knocked you down the hardest. 

Honestly, I could write a dissertation on all I've learned, but I think this list hits the high points. At least, these are the main things that have helped me to keep going, and are hopefully lighting the path to better days ahead. 

That's all today. Take care, and have a great week. 

Bye!

Hi folks! After sharing the prologue to Fracture a couple of days ago, I thought it would be good to share a chapter where you can get to better know the two main characters. You've already met Kalea Kerner, the main character. Here you meet her cousin, Annaliese Kerner-Boyce. Annaliese is six months older than Kalea. She's a psychiatrist in Washington D.C. where she lives most of the year with her husband, Kieran Kerner, a member of Congress. 

Enjoy!

Annaliese scanned the pick up line outside of Columbia Metropolitan Airport, searching for her cousin’s car. She checked her watch. Four o’clock on Monday afternoon, right on time. Kieran tried to get Annaliese a flight on Saturday, but the President and Vice-President were traveling that weekend, so it was easier for her to wait until they returned on Monday to get her flight privledges. She fanned herself in the sticky summer air. Kalea still had a bad habit of running late. Then again, she should have known better than to wear a black pantsuit and two inch high heeled sandals on the flight. Congressman’s wife or not, southeastern summers are too brutal for formal dress.

Kalea finally pulled up five minutes late in her metallic blue luxery car. Annaliese raised an eyebrow, thinking that her cousin was taking well to her role as a successful business owner – until Kalea stepped out of the car in light blue jeans, a pink shirt, and slip-on walking shoes.

“Sorry I’m late,” Kalea said, reaching up to hug Annaliese. Annaliese stooped slightly into the hug. She was five foot five, but the heels made it awkward. “I just got finished with a school inspection and they ran over.”

“They still make you do that in this heat?” Annaliese said, stashing her bag in the trunk and ducking in the car, where the air conditioner blew her dark brown, shoulder length curls. She knew the flat iron would be pointless in this humidity, so she left it at home, knowing she’s envy her cousin’s long, straight hair hanging obediently down her back.

“School starts Wednesday. We have to make sure it’s safe for the kids to walk in the building by the time the first bell rings.”

“How are you doing?” Annaliese asked as Kalea pulled away from the curb.

“Busy, but I think that will settle down over the next few weeks. I’ve had a lot of catching up to do from the time I missed helping with Uncle Carson over the past couple of months.”

Annaliese drew a sharp breath. “Kalea, I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. I wanted to and I feel guilty about you having to play my role in this. It’s so crazy up in D.C. between my practice and Kieran fighting to fund his projects with the Commerce, Science and Transportation committee. As chair, a lot of the burden falls on him. The President is still threatening to discontinue the program, you know. Kieran is fighting to keep the Space Program alive.”

“What’s the President’s problem with it?” Kalea asked. “I certainly thought his tirade would end after the controversy and media fallout over his comment on wasting resources on empty space?”

“The President’s supporters on cutting the program claim that the funding would be better spent on building up our military. The unrest in the East is building to proportions not seen since World War II.”

“I know China is involved now, but how will funding our military help? The United States pretty pulled out of everywhere and stopped getting involved in national matters five years ago when Russia and the Middle Eastern alliance started butting heads.”

“That whole side of the world is at war and it’s going to spread. The United States is under pressure from most of Western Europe and Australia to support the cause for democracy.”

“I didn’t know democracy was under attack. I thought it was this three way battle of theocracy, communism and socialism taking over the region.”

“It isn’t now, but no matter what the outcome is, it’s not favorable for democratic governments,” Annaliese said. “A lot of people believe we’re on the brink of World War III.”

“This is why I don’t watch the news.” Kalea laughed. “Of course, if they cut the Space Program and an asteroid smacks the planet and fries us all, all bets are off. Then everybody will be in the hereafter arguing over why we didn’t keep our eyes on the skies.”

Annaliese returned the laugh. “It does seem that the things that undo us usually hit where we aren’t looking.” She looked down, studying her two carat diamond ring and gold, diamond studded wedding band. “I try to help Kieran as much as I can. Some of my clients are well connected, and if I help them personally then they’re gracious with helping politically. Kirean needs all the support he can get to keep the Space Program alive. Most of our technological advances have come through it.

Kalea held up a hand. “You know politics blows up  my brain, so you don’t need to explain. I trust that you’re both busy with matters of National importance.”

“I still should have been here for Dad. There’s no excuse for that.” Annaliese blew a long sigh. “Here I am a psychiatrist, and I couldn’t help my own father.”

“There’s nothing you could have done. His Alzheimer’s was too advanced  by the time the nanotech that could have reversed the damage was released to the public.” She paused. “He’s fine now, so it doesn’t matter.”

“I still should have been here more. You’re stronger than I am, to be able to watch this progress day by day. I just couldn’t face seeing my father slip away.”

Kalea smiled. “I’m an engineer. I don’t have feelings. I’m all logic and function, remember?”

Annaliese returned the mock smile. “So are shrinks, but I didn’t pull it off this time. My baby cousin  showed me up.”

“I think six months hardly makes me a baby to you,” Kalea said. “Did Avery give you a hard time? Because he hasn’t been around a lot either. I think it’s ironic that he was fussing about you not being here last week, but before Uncle Carson took that bad turn it had been,” she paused, thinking. “Easter. He came for a three day weekend at Easter.”

“He did get on me a little, but I passed it off as immaturity and his own emotions getting the better of him. He just turned thirty. He has yet to gain our perspective.”

Kalea laughed. “So give him six more years to grow up, eh?”

“Well, the truth is that he did make a point. I felt guilty about not being around ever since Dad fell after the fourth of July. He went downhill fast.”

“He had a subdural hematoma from that fall on the front porch. The doctors didn’t do surgery because of his advanced Alzheimer’s. They thought it might go away on its own anyway.”

“I forgot about that. Does he still have it?”

Kalea shook her head. “They did a scan before they released him last week, and it was gone. In fact, they did a full check-up, and he’s the picture of health. Your father is the man you remember again. Well, mostly.”

“What does that mean?”

“He seems different to me.”

“How?” Annaliese asked.  

“I don’t know, it’s little things. Like sometimes he looks at me like he can see right through me, or like he sees something that nobody else can. And he says strange things sometimes, like he’ll be watching the news and he’ll blurt out ‘what a waste of energy when there are worse things coming.’ Then when you ask what that means, he either  passes it off as a joke, or he doesn’t remember saying it.”

“I imagine coming back from the brink of death has shifted his paradigm significantly. Didn’t the nurses say he only had a matter of hours left just before he woke up?”

Kalea nodded silently.

“When you fight the reaper and win, then I imagine a lot of what we worry about seems silly.”

“I suppose so. You can talk to him and decide for yourself.”

“I will,” Annaliese says. She paused. “I saw your interview Friday night. It was good.”

“I shouldn’t have done that,” Kalea said sharply.

Annaliese stared at Kalea, shocked at the bitterness in her voice. “Why not?”

“I made a fool of myself. I looked as bad as those people proclaiming that we’re living in the end times.”

“No you didn’t. I thought it was a great interview. But there was a point where you didn’t seem like yourself. It’s when the reporter asked about your scar.”

“I don’t know what came over me or why I said that,” Kalea said. “And I don’t know why that scar flared up like that right before the interview. It had been faint until that day, and they they turn on the cameras and it’s practically neon red.”

“Does it hurt?”

“No.”

“Have you had it checked?” Annaliese asked.

“I did this morning. They scanned it and said it’s cosmetic. They offered me nanotech to fade it, but I said no.”

“Why?”

“It’s expensive and a scar isn’t worth it, especially if there’s no medical reason for it,” Kalea said, “and I don’t like he idea of robot doing stuff in my body.”

“Oh, I see. You’re one of those types that don’t believe in mixing biology and technology.”

“I don’t believe in doing it indiscriminately, especially for something that isn’t terminal or life threatening. If you body can heal it, let it. Besides, it’s still too new and too expensive. I thought you of all people would understand that.”

“I do,” Annaliese said.

“Besides, the body has a remarkable capacity for healing itself. Just look at Uncle Carson. He recovered completely without any nanotech whatsoever.” Kalea smiled mischievously. “You can’t let robots perform all the miracles, can you?”

Annaliese stared at Kalea in surprise at the out of place comment. “So you believe what happened to Dad was a miracle?”

Kalea sombered. “I’m not sure what it was, but I’m certain we’ll all find out soon enough.” She turned on the gravel driveway mostly hidden from the main road. “Welcome back to The Kerner Complex, as the locals call it. Do you want me to take you to your house, or your parents’?”

Annaliese thought as Kalea wound through the road leading to the houses spread out on their five hundred acres of wooded family land. “Take me home. I’d like to unpack and change into cooler clothes. I’ll meet Mom and Dad for dinner. Will you join us?”

Kalea shook her head. “Thanks, but I have to pass. I have some work to do from home tonight. Maybe another time.”

“Maybe,” Annaliese said softly, still staring at Kalea.

“You enjoy some time with them,” Kalea said, her eyes seeming to sparkle in a shaft of afternoon sunlight streaming through the trees. “I’m sure you’ll be amazed at what you find back here at  home.”

If you’ve been on Facebook, then you know that I started work on my sci-fi trilogy last week. Although I’ve been planning this project for a couple of months, I really didn’t think I’d start it until 2015, but as often happens, the ideas started coming and, well, you roll with them before you lose them. One thing all writers know is to write when you have the story.

The series is titled The Earthside Trilogy, and Book 1 is tentatively titled Fracture. So far, I’ve written three chapters, and it’s coming along quite well. I’m really excited about this project and look forward to seeing it develop and having fun with creating my own tale of “the ultimate alien invasion.”

I usually share the prologue of my novels with you when I start a new writing project. Honestly, I hesitated to share this one, because it’s a deathbed scene (well, perhaps) and might be disturbing. The thing is, it’s integral to the plot, and you won’t understand future excerpts unless you know what happens here. It is, after all, what kicks off the story. After some internal debate, I’ve decided heck with it, it’s going to be out there eventually anyway. So here you have it.

Here’s the context of the story: meet Kalea Kerner, a thirty-three year old electrical engineer in Columbia, South Carolina. She’s a successful young woman who recently took over as President of her father’s engineering company after his retirement a few months ago, and was recently heralded in the media as one of the youngest professional business owners in the State of South Carolina. We find her sitting with her Uncle Carson, who is in the final stages of Alzheimer’s (maybe?).  This is set in the future, but not very far – perhaps fifteen to twenty years. I’ve decided to hint at the slightly futuristic setting throughout the novel without specifically “dating” it per some suggestions I’ve found on writer’s groups online. You’ll see this in future excerpts. For now, you can imagine that it’s sometime in the years 2020-2025.

And now, I proudly present Prologue of Fracture. Venture forth if you dare:

No matter how clean a hospital is, there’s no way to mask the simple fact that people die here. They do it every day, and no amount of cleanser or disinfectant can wash away the overbearing sense of loss that permeates these places. Souls enter and leave the world in hospitals every day with such regularity that it’s routine.

Still, it’s different when it’s someone you know. It’s not just another death. This time, it’s Uncle Carson. 

Kalea blew out a long sigh as she fanned herself in the stifling room. “Why is it so hot in here?”

No reply. Just the shallow hiss of the air conditioner and Uncle Carson’s rattled breath. The same as the last two hours. A useless air conditioner that somehow couldn’t go below eighty degrees and that awful death rattle. The nurse called her Aunt and cousin out of the room for a “conversation” five minutes ago, leaving her alone on here to watch him just in case – of what? Maybe he could still hear, but if his demise was inevitable to everybody else, then surely it was inevitable to him. He was the one stuck in the bed. He was the one hooked up the machines. He was the one rattling, rattling, rattling. She heard a muffled sob out of her aunt in the hallway.

“Geeze!” she hissed, dropping her shoes on the floor and pulling the splint off her left leg. “It’s a hundred degrees outside and this sprained ankle is so swollen that it’s almost the size of the pumpkins you used to grow. Remember the pumpkins?”

No response. So much for reminiscing over the good times.

Kalea leaned back in the chair, propping her foot on the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry, Uncle Carson. I’m sorry that the cure came too late.” She raised her canned drink in a mock salute. “Here’s to the world’s worst timing.”

Rattling – from the air conditioner and Uncle Carson.

Kalea sat the can on the table and leaned back in the chair. “This is crap,” she muttered, pressing her hand over her head where she felt a migraine coming on. Great, one more problem was just was just what she needed. Her uncle was dying because the nanotech that could have reconnected his neural pathways was put on the medical market too late to help him. She was hobbling around on a sprained ankle because she couldn’t afford the same tech that could have healed this stupid running injury in a matter of minutes. And now her head hurt and her medication was left behind in her apartment, forgotten in her “your uncle is dying” haste of picking up her cousin at the airport and rushing here, just to sit and wait. She pressed harder, trying to press out pain, the rattle, her aunt’s sobs in the hallway.

Kalea groaned as she squinted at the late afternoon summer sunshine streaming through the window, reminding herself that whatever chaos reigned in here, the world was going on as normal out there, and she’d be part of it again as soon as they got through this. They would get through this. Whatever happened to Uncle Carson, tomorrow would come and they would make it through that day, and the next, and the next, and everyday after that until they faced this moment themselves. At least, that’s what the chaplin said a hour ago.

Kalea relaxed, sinking in the chair. She opened her eyes a slit to see the blue sky and sunlight through the top of the window. A peace seeped into her, a quietness that told her that everything would be alright. Tomorrow may not come for Uncle Carson, but it would for everybody else, and they would go on.

A hand grabbed Kalea’s ankle. She jerked up to see Uncle Carson sitting up in the bed, his hand holding her sprained ankle.

“Kalea?”

Kalea tried to pull back her foot, but his grip tightened. She whined.

“Kalea, it’s going to be alright.”

She stared at him with wide, brown eyes. “What --“

Uncle Carson smiled. “It’s fine. We’ve been chosen. We’re going to save the world.”

Kalea pulled harder on her ankle. A shock went through her ankle and foot as she jerked away and leaped out of the chair, dashing out of the door. She ran down the hall to the nurses station where her aunt and Avery has retreated with the nurses, her left bloody foot leaving prints on the  linoleum floor. They stopped as they saw her approach, her short, brown hair flying behind her. Avery hurried to meet her, catching her in his arm. “Kalea, what is it?”

Kalea gasped, staring at Avery. “He’s awake.”

Aunt Molly turned from the nurse she was talking to, her eyes wide. “What did you say?”

“He’s awake!”

“That’s impossible,” the nurse said, pushing past them. They followed her to Uncle Carson’s room,  where they found him sitting up and calmly removing the morphine IV drip from his arm. He smiled at them.

“Hello everybody. Isn’t it a beautiful day?”

Aunt Molly and Avery rushed to Uncle Carson, engulfing him in a hug.

The nurse pushed her hair out of her face, her shaky arm exposing a phoenix tattoo. “I don’t understand.”

Aunt Molly looked up from her embrace, tears dripping down her cheek. “It’s a miracle!”

Kalea backed against the wall. “Then why am I scared?”