It’s Friday, and I’m so looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow! We’re on our third day of rainy, stormy weather, but the skies are supposed to clear today.  I can’t wait! I need to stand outside and soak up some sunshine and Vitamin D (I tend to run low despite taking supplements!). I have plenty of work to do, and I plan to fit in some painting so I can keep on track with #the100dayproject artists’ challenge, but I also need to add some serious housecleaning chores to my To Do list. When it rains, the leaves and mud track inside and the humidity captures the animals’ wet fur smells…. Ew. I’m burning incense now and will be cleaning floors today.

Now that that doctor cleared me to remove my splint while I type, my fingers are flying. My outlook is cheerier. I was short-tempered and grumpy—not me at all. I’m Sue-Ann Nivens without the mean, sarcastic bite (anyone love the Mary Tyler Moore Show?). I also hope to watch some TV with the family. I’d love to catch up on Wolf Pack with the wonderful Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy, anyone?) and a horror-comedy on Netflix called, We Have a Ghost. Neither have to be perfect or stellar; they just have to deliver on the genre. Campy can be cool, too.

If you have any other recommendations, I’d love to hear them! And take a look at the HUGE list of open contests, especially those ending soon, like by the end of the weekend. Enter while you still can!

Open Contests

1. Gabbi Black: Romances Around the World! (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win a FREE book!
2. Sliding-Puzzle Challenge: Woman Fleeing Dragon (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Why is she leaving…? — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Cover Reveal for Silver Soldiers! (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Word Search Puzzle: Spring Cleaning (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
6. February Into March (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
7. Story Cubes — Tell me a story (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Cindy!
*~*~*

I bought this little brainstorming tool years ago at some writers’ conference. “Story Cubes” is a brainstorming game. You roll the dice and whatever pictures appear, face-up, are the ones you use to riff off a story.

To make this fun, I’ll offer a prize—a $5 Amazon gift card—good for purchasing one or two stories…

Have fun with this! Don’t overthink! Here’s the roll… (Ignore the gray hair! 🙂 )

UPDATE: The winner is…ButtonsMom2003!
*~*~*

I haven’t done a recap in a while, and I think I need to reinstitute the habit! It keeps me honest about what I’ve accomplished, and if you’re paying attention, it gives you something to nag me about!

February

Work-related:

1. I began the month working on my next Montana Bounty Hunter story, Mica, but halted work abruptly due to an injury I’ll talk about below.
2. I did complete editing all the Silver Soldiers stories, and my sister and I worked on a cover for Silver Soldiers! Plus, it’s up for pre-order!
3. I completed only 2 editing projects for other authors in January. Again, the injury severely impacted my ability to place my hands on my keyboard.

Health-related:

1. On February 10th, I fell down the basement stairs and broke a bone in my right hand. I spent the rest of the month wearing a splint (thank goodness the doctor gave me the option of a splint rather than a hard cast!). After that, I had limited use of my hand. I could edit, but writing wasn’t an option. I was just too slow.
2. After the fall, I also experienced more issues with my blood pressure. It’s been spiking horribly. To the point, I have to keep Clonidine in my medicine cabinet when it does get above a certain level. I was also given a higher dose of my hypertension medicine. Since then, I’ve gone back on Weight Watchers and cut salt dramatically. So far, I’ve lost 5 pounds, and I’m beginning to see my BP come down. Not enough, but it isn’t scaring me now!
3. As for physical activity, I’m not doing enough. I’m feeling tired all the time. Which I know has to do with my weight, meds, a little depression due to my hand injury. I’m trying not to nap during the day, and that need has waned.

Happiness-related: 

1. I haven’t been to local art guild or humanities council meetings. So, no mingling with real people. I use the excuse that I can’t do my hair right, or I’m grumpy because of my splint, or that work takes me longer to accomplish each day because I’m in splint. All excuses.
2. I did decide to participate in the #the100dayproject art online art challenge despite my injury. Art has been the only highlight of the month. Here are a few of my February pieces…

 

 

March

For work-related, I plan:

1. To complete Mica! It will release March 28th come hell or high water!
2. To complete a short story for the Silver Soldiers anthology. And to prod my sister into finishing hers!
3. To complete 3 editing projects in March!

For health related, I plan:

1. To keep 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!
2. To continue to reduce salt, processed food, and incorporate foods good for blood pressure (spinach, broccoli, bananas, red wine).
3. To get the pool cleaned up so that the minute the water is warm enough, I’ll be swimming (hopefully by mid-April).
4. To begin walking and counting my steps.
5. 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: 

1. To continue producing some small piece of art every day as part of #the100dayproject.
2. Try to complete one of the many already paid-for online art classes I’ve lined up to do.
3. To blog about art (on my Emerald Casket site) just to keep myself honest!
4. 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…

Like I said, comment on anything for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!