Friday, March 31st, 2023
UPDATE: The winner is…Gail S!
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This is the last day of March! Where does the time go? Without any further ado, I’ll dive right into my recap…
March
Work-related:
- I completed work on my latest Montana Bounty Hunter story, Mica! And I published it!!!
- I’ve been doing minimal work on the Silver Soldiers anthology, which comes out May 9th! Mostly, working on a promotional calendar with the authors in the anthology.
- I completed only 3 editing projects for other authors in March. The injury to my hand severely impacted my ability to work at my usual pace, at least for the first half of the month.
Health-related:
- I continued wearing the brace on my hand until March 17th. The break is healed, but now I have to work on physical therapy to improve my hand’s function. My hand aches after I use it for a while, and my fingers get numb when I hold a paintbrush or pen for very long.
- I had a visit with a cardiologist this month. He has me wearing a monitor stuck to my chest for a week to see how it functions day to day. It’s beating a little slowly and has a slight arrhythmia. My blood pressure is still way too high, but the cardiologist adjusted my meds, and we’ll see how that goes.
- I haven’t been dieting like I should, what with my heart and blood pressure issues, and I haven’t been great about cutting my salt intake. My weight loss is stagnant! I think I was a little depressed by my hand injury. I could tell because I wanted to sleep way too much and didn’t want to go out at all. I don’t like to wallow in negativity, but it has been hard to motivate myself to move forward.
- As for physical activity, I’m not doing enough. Again, I’m feeling tired all the time. Which I know has to do with my weight, meds, and inactivity. All my issues are interrelated. I just need to get my fat ass off this chair and move more often.
Happiness-related:Â
- I’m back participating with my local art guild or humanities council. We had some planning meetings for upcoming exhibits and programs. It felt good to get out and mingle again.
- I am still participating in the #the100dayproject art online art challenge. As of today, I’m on Day 38. Here are a few of my March pieces…
April
 
For work-related, I plan:
- To complete my short story for the Silver Soldiers anthology.
- To compile all the Silver Soldiers stories into the anthology and get it formatted for release on May 9th.
- To begin work on Cold Hard Cash, the first of the We Are Dead Horse series.
- To complete 4 editing projects in April!
For health related, I plan:
- To restart counting those points for my Weight Watchers diet (I hate that word) and hopefully shed at least another 5 pounds, remembering, as always: Slow is good!
- To continue to reduce salt, processed food, and incorporate foods good for blood pressure (spinach, broccoli, bananas, red wine).
- To get the pool cleaned up—as soon as the weather cooperates—so that the minute the water is warm enough, I’m swimming (hopefully by end of April).
- To begin walking and counting my steps.
- I’ll re-dedicate myself to doing more housework, too, because my art room is a disaster. And cleaning is exercise, right?
For happiness-related, I plan:Â
- To continue producing some small piece of art every day as part of #the100dayproject. I’m volunteering several times a month to sit in the Art Center to keep it open. I use those quiet days away from my computer just to paint!
- Try to complete one of the many already paid-for online art classes I’ve lined up to do.
- To blog about art (on my Emerald Casket site) just to keep myself honest!
- To work toward re-opening my Etsy store!
Contest
Comment on anything you’ve read in this post. Tell me what you’re doing to make yourself happier and healthier. Tell me what you plan to read in April…
Like I said, comment on anything for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!
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Your art work is so inspiring. I’m doing alternate fasting and am going to add walking to my goal of losing 20 pounds this year.
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I love every piece of your artwork. The colors are always so vivid. I read Mica and I loved his story. Your bounty hunters rock!! I’ve stopped using any added salt many years ago. I believe it’s maybe helped, along with my meds, to keep my blood pressure lowered. But it seems since I’ve retired it’s been staying down. In fact, I’m shocked sometimes when it’s taken. I’m hoping when the warmer weather hits, I’ll get out a bit more…maybe take a walk down the road or get to do some swimming for a bit of exercise.
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I like you have a game plan. That’s half the battle. Keeping to it is the hardest sometimes. I write out to-do lists and am happy if I accomplish more than 50% daily.
I was laid off in January–4 days after my 26th anniversary with the same company. It was a rough blow since I always strived to do my best. While I was super disappointed, I was relieved at the same time because after working remotely for 23 months, health-wise it was getting to be an effort to commute daily back to the city. I use a walker now. I was up at 3:30, on a bus at 5:00, transfer to a trolley at 6:10 and started work at 6:30. Since I was laid off, I have a severance package. Had I retired, I would have no extra money. The hardest part now is trying to sleep beyond 3:30!
I am looking forward to putting in my garden. I feel like Tiny Tim from A Christmas Carol because I put my cane under my armpit like a crutch for support as I bury the bedding plants.
I want to learn to watercolor. I did oils and acrylics. I need to get back to my writing. My characters are angry I have neglected them.
I try to get some things done everyday–chorewise. This is a monumental task ahead of me since housework sat on the back burner while I worked 6 days a week.
Lastly, I am no longer looking over my shoulder for the big butterfly net waiting to capture me and send me back to work, especially since tomorrow is April Fools Day!
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Your artwork makes me smile!
Curious if your troll ever got her name…
I started my garden… will see how that turns out. Read a bunch… Happy Spring!
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Very excited about your work projects and your art, Delilah–your writing and your painting definitely bring me joy! Huge hugs to you!
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pretty art
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Colleen! My little troll’s name is Solveig. Had to choose an old Norse name. She insisted.
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You do have a busy life. I love all of your art work. I am getting the house ready for winter.
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I am trying to lose weight as well. It is very hard. I have no thyroid so it makes it harder
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I’m still working on clearing things out – somedays are harder than others to let things go – but it feels good when I get a load out of the house. The weather is still very confused – we go from a day of possible snow flurries to 70 degrees. That kind of crazy fluctuation can create the violent weather that some people in the middle of the country have been devastated by.
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Glad you are feeling better and getting out more. I don’t like the word ‘diet’ either, so I use ‘livet’ plan instead. I know made up word but it fits. I too fight the fight of high blood pressure and weight, but because of mobility issues, have trouble exercising. I have started doing chair yoga and it has helped mobility a bit. Still new at it so hopefully that as I continue it will help more. Take care.
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Weight loss is such a tough issue. I decided to loose 20 lbs and I have dedicated myself to with a single-minded fervor. I have joined a gym. I am going to make my goal in April. I’ll add you to my prayers that you make your goal, too.
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I love your ability to keep your art in your life balance
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I mentioned this in a previous post, but I love your watercolors.
I finished physical therapy for my shoulders, it still bothers me, but I’m mostly OK. I hope your rehab is helping and you will be healed soon. Take care & I’ll keep you in my prayers.