Well, a few things new in my world this week. They are:
1. Lulu just shipped an order of Murder by the Acre (Second Edition) with the new covers to me. Or they should ship Monday. Which means, unless the hurricane interferes since Lulu is in North Carolina, that I should get them in plenty of time for the Chisholm Trail Book Festival on September 17.
2. Was supposed to have a writers group meeting today, but it got cancelled. I was actually disappointed. It's good to get out of the house and meet with other people.
3. Have developed some foot problems that have interfered with my walking each day. Both feet are healing nicely, and I will return to the gym on Monday. Probably going to switch to the recumbent bikes to give my feet a bit of a rest from having to support my weight.
4. Been working on Circles. I had plunged into it without knowing a thing about this new world. Got to a point that I needed some background and at least a semblance of plot. Have a notebook dedicated to it now and been jotting notes and ideas as they come to me.
5. Also been working on the Ryton Atlas. Ryton is the fictional town where my mysteries are set. I didn't update the Atlas with all the changes that happened in Murder by the Acre. Makes a big difference, especially in cozy mysteries where the locale and townspeople are constant characters in the book. If that makes sense.
Anyway, the Atlas will help me finish Murder by the Mile. I already caught a couple of errors in MBTM from the MBTA entries. Cool.
6. Speaking of cool, it's been anything but as the temps continue to soar here. Been terribly hot. So looking forward to fall and cooler weather. Winter even -- and I hate the cold. Been soaking in my pool when the sun goes down. Water is still warm, but you don't boil.
7. Next up, a huge project as I work to launch Oakleaf Harbor Cards online. I plan to have 50 original cards in a Cafepress store -- and maybe other places if I can find them -- where people can order them online. Harder work than you might expect. I know I didn't think it would be this much work. Don't know if it will fly, but won't ever know if I don't try.
And I think that's it for my week. Hope we all have a great week next week. You're all in my thoughts and prayers.
9 comments:
{{huggs}} I'm confident your books will arrive on time, and that everything else will find a way to work out. Hang in there, and try to stay cool. {{huggs}}
I can't decide if you sound more hopeful or more resigned to the status quo. The good thing is you don't sound depressed, and I might not worry so much about you this week. I'm seriously about you add you to the prayer chain at church. You and Tammy both.
Do you have access to a pool where you can swim laps? Just something to consider.
Sounds like some good writing progress! When you get your Cafe Press cards up, let us know. I'll go shop!
Thanks for the ehuggs, Tammy. :)
Wendy, I think I'm a little resigned or something similar to the realties of my situation. I'm down, but not as down as I have been. Really, I'm better. Not dancing, mind you, but I don't want to huddle in my bed. I'm thinking the Vitamin D is helping. Something is.
As for laps, no, I don't. My gym has a pool, but they use it for water therapy and don't have free swim right now.
Oh, and I can send you PDF's my cards -- like I did for Jean -- if you can tell me what you're looking for, i.e. funny birthday, serious birthday, son, daughter, aunt, etc. The more info I have, the closer I can come to fulfilling your card expectations. :) Cards direct from me can be personalized with the name or nickname of the receiver. If you like a card(s), I print them and mail them to you with envelopes and seals.
I'm confident your books will arrive in time for the festival.
Ugh! Foot troubles are terrible. They cause so many other problems through our efforts to compensate for them. Good call on the recumbent bike.
Hurray for background info for Circles and the Ryton Atlas (that sounds so cool!). At least something is, because it sure hasn't been the temperatures here, either. I fully expect spontaneous combustion at any moment.
The Card store sounds like a huge project, but in the long run, I think it will be much easier--especially for people who don't live near you.
Stephen, my mom made a point to tell me what a wonderful card you made (she thought I made it, but I filled her in on what really happened). Your packaging ensured it arrived here as gorgeous as when it left your hands.
I'm glad your Vitamin D seems to be helping. I have some green tea down in San Antonio, and we're heading there on Tuesday, so I'll try some. I'm embarrassed to admit I've misplaced the list of foods you sent.
5. Green Tea: The flavonoids in green tea are potent natural anti-inflammatory compounds that have been shown in numerous studies to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
Sidekicks: Water. What can be more cleansing for the body than zero contamination water?
6. Papaya: Coined by Christopher Columbus as the ‘fruit of the angels’, papaya contains papain, a protein-digesting enzyme. Together with other nutrients such as vitamin C and E, papain helps to reduce inflammation, and improves digestion and healing from burns.
Sidekicks: Pineapple. A tropical fruit worthy of mention, pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that aids in the healing of indigestion, sports injury, trauma and other kinds of swelling. Extracts of bromelain have also proven to be as effective as some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and are used in a number of natural anti-inflammatory supplements for arthritis.
7. Blueberry: An antioxidant powerhouse, blueberry is high in phytonutrients that confer anti-inflammatory protection against many diseases such as cancer and dementia.
Sidekicks: Blackberries, cranberries, goji berries, strawberries and raspberries. These berries are comparable alternatives to blueberries and are equally high in antioxidants. So start feasting on one type of berries each week.
8. Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Virgin olive oil is Mediterranean’s secret to longevity. Its rich supply of polyphenols protects the heart and blood vessels from inflammation. The monounsaturated fats in olive oil are also turned into anti-inflammatory agents by the body that can lower occurrences of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.
Sidekicks: Avocado oil. Also known as alligator pear, avocado produces oil that has a fat composition similar to olive oil, containing high heart-beneficial monounsaturated fats. But, it has an even higher smoke point than olive oil, making it the ideal oil for cooking.
9. Broccoli is a highly nutritious vegetable that contains anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer phytonutrients such as sulforaphane which helps the body to get rid of potentially carcinogenic compounds.
Sidekicks: Cauliflower. A close relative to broccoli, this cruciferous vegetable also contain similar goodness as broccoli that aids the body’s detoxification.
Arch-Enemies: Nightshades vegetables. Tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants and others are classified as nightshade vegetables, which contain high alkaloid — a substance that may affect the joints, nerve-muscle function and digestion in some individuals. If you are suffering from any of these problems, you may want to try cutting down on the consumption of nightshades vegetables.
10. Sweet Potato is often overshadowed by other exotic vegetables and fruits. But it is also a good source of complex carbohydrate, beta-carotene, manganese, vitamin B6 and C as well as dietary fiber. Working in concert, these nutrients are powerful antioxidants that help to heal inflammation in the body.
1. Kelp contains fucoidan, a type of complex carbohydrate that is anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-oxidative. A few studies on fucoidan in recent years have found promising results in using the brown algae extract to control liver and lung cancer and to promote collagen synthesis. The high fiber content of kelp also helps to induce fullness, slow fat absorption and promote weight loss. But whenever possible, get only organic kelps harvested from unpolluted sea.
2. Wild Alaskan Salmon is an excellent source of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), two potent omega-3 fatty acids that douse inflammation. The benefits of omega-3 have been backed by numerous studies and they range from preventing heart disease and some cancers to reducing symptoms of autoimmune diseases and psychological disorders. Be sure to include some oily fish such as wild Alaskan salmon in your diet twice a week. If fish is not your type of food, you can also get omega-3 fatty acids from high-quality fish oil supplements.
3. Turmeric, this Asian spice commonly found in pre-mixed curry powder, contains a powerful, non-toxic compound called curcumin. Studies found that turmeric’s anti-inflammatory effects are on a par with potent drugs such as hydrocortisone and Motrin, but yet having none of their side effects.
Sidekicks: Ginger. This relative of turmeric is also highly prized around the world for its anti-inflammatory benefits, and are used to expel cold and relieve motion sickness and vomiting.
Arch-Enemy: Sugar. It can hardly be called a spice, but the widespread use of sugar rivals that of any spice and has led to a host of illnesses linked to this additive condiment. A diet high in sugar is decidedly inflammation-promoting and should be controlled.
4. Shiitake Mushroom: Enjoyed by the Chinese and the Japanese since ancient times, shiitake mushroom is revered for its immune-boosting properties and its mild smoky taste.
Sidekicks: Maitake, enoki, oyster mushrooms. There is no better way to fight cancer and enhance your health than to feast on a plate of stir-fried mixed mushrooms. Yummy!
Here's the list! Yes, for some reason, it's all posted backwards. Sigh.
Thank you, Stephen!
My grandma is going to be 95 next month if you have something that would fit that. I usually go for funny but serious might be the better way to go!
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