Life Shift

In the past few years, my life has shifted from totally focusing on writing, editing, and reviewing, to now doing barely any of this. Writing was a way of escaping my reality, but now I needed to give reality my full attention. I tried to get back into writing, or even just editing or reviewing, but I didn't have the drive to do it. My mind wasn't focused on those things anymore. There were more pressing issues that required all my attention, questions I didn't have answers for, dilemmas I needed to resolve.

So I turned inward. I studied many New Age concepts, such as the law of attraction, vibrational frequency, living in the moment, mindfulness meditation, A Course in Miracles, and even quantum mechanics. I became fascinated by the double slit experiment, and how just observing an experiment changes the outcome. I've always believed in the power of the mind and positive thinking, but I immersed myself in the concept so I could learn how to influence my reality and create a better future.

I also turned to nature. Hiking has become my favorite activity, and I often escape to my mountain to refresh my mind and get a good workout. I also joined group hikes and met wonderful people while having a great time and indulging in breathtaking views.

So I'm giving writing a break, focusing on tuning in with my inner power. Maybe all this will be good material for writing later on, who knows? For now, I'm learning to be happy with where I am right now, without pursuing future goals, without resisting what is, but just accepting my life as it is and being okay with my circumstances. That doesn't mean I won't take action to change things, but the first step is to accept and let go of any resistance, then follow my inner guidance to take action, instead of reacting to everything life throws at me. Let's see how it goes!

New Website, Hiking, and a Patch of Blue Sky

I took a break from writing for the past few years. Real life sometimes has a way of bringing me back from the world of fiction, and I just needed to focus on my own reality for a while rather than creating fictional ones.

This period of my life feels like driving in a storm: just focus on the road ahead and do nothing else.

It wasn't all bad, though. I just needed to spend quality time with my three kids, who are now all teens (enough said!). Just a few more years and they'll be all gone! And I have to take care of my health and personal well-being, if I want to live a long, healthy, happy life.

So I took my kids to explore caves, visit a zoo, have fun at Dave & Buster's, and I'm planning to do more fun stuff with them this year.

It's the year of the fire monkey, so it should be filled with fun and excitement, right?

On a personal level, I've been losing weight, renovating my room, and getting rid of a chronic backache. And I joined a new gym:

Hiking is such a good way to workout and replenish. I love being in nature. Way better than a treadmill!

I'm playing around with the idea of a website where I can link not only this writing blog but also other projects I've been into. I'm thinking about starting a nature blog and posting hiking pictures there. Starting a new blog will help me get back into writing and networking.

Eventually I want to start writing short stories and novels again, but I'm not sure when my muse will come back from vacation, probably once the storm is over. I think the patch of blue sky I spotted is getting bigger...

My Little Room Renovation Project

Our tenant's daughter was using one of the attic rooms as a bedroom, but since she left for college and doesn't need it anymore, I took it over as my home office. I needed my own private space to write and edit in peace. But after years of being used and abused by a teenage girl, the room needed ... a little work.

Before...

I had never done a painting job all on my own before. I've helped painting a few times, long ago, but that's about it. Most of the time, when a room needed painting, I was busy keeping our three young kids away from the paint, so I didn't take part in the painting jobs. But now that they're old enough, I decided to give it a try. I did every step, from spackling to sanding to painting to retouching.

... During ...

I was a little nervous about the results. How would it turn out once all done? Would it be as beautiful as I imagined? Or would it look as a total newbie project? Well, see for yourself. What do you think?

... After!

There's only one problem. Now that my husband knows I can paint, he wants me to finish his numerous unfinished painting projects around the house! What did I get myself into?

Coffee Detox, Yoga Challenge, and Other Non-Writing Stuff

This winter, I took a break from setting goals about writing, reading, and editing and began the year with some health goals instead, starting with a three-week coffee detox in January.

Three-Week Coffee Detox

I searched the internet for different detox methods, but I couldn't find one that fit my needs perfectly, so I came up with my own:


- Replacing my morning coffee with hot water, freshly pressed lemon, and honey
- Replacing my afternoon coffee with green tea
- Drinking any herbal tea of my choice in the evening
- Drinking two water bottles throughout the day

Why? Because I noticed that drinking coffee didn't have any effect on me anymore. I was just as tired after drinking a cup of coffee, so what's the point? And I felt like my body could use a good detox from all the junk I'd been eating during the holidays.

Drinking no coffee was the main thing, but I also made a conscious effort to eat a lot more vegetables and a lot less carbs during those three weeks. I also used an exfoliating body wash every day and even tried a hot-cold shower twice a week to detox at every level.

The result: I had headaches and leg cramps during the first week. I'm guessing it's because my body was used to having caffeine every day. That surprised me, because I only drink two coffees per day, sometimes less.

The other two weeks were a lot better. I had more energy (although sometimes I could really have used an afternoon coffee), and I lost four pounds! And best of all, I got used to eating healthier, so it's easier to keep up with the good habits. And now, when I drink a cup of coffee, it keeps me awake a lot more. So I'm planning to keep it that way: just drink coffee occasionally, when I really need it, instead of every day out of habit.

Thirty-Day Yoga Challenge

My next goal was to complete the Thirty-Day Yoga Challenge. This is perfect for exercising at home during the cold winter months. All you need is a yoga mat and a computer to watch the daily 10-20-minute video by Erin Motz. And it's free!

I thought yoga was a mild form of exercise, but man, the abs workout was intense! The videos are for beginners, but she also gives tips for those who need a little more. Every day is different. One video focuses on stretching the wrists and hand muscles. Perfect for writers!

Mindful in May

I've already registered for Mindful in May, which is a one-month online meditation course. I did it last year and gained a lot from it. Every day in May, you get an e-mail with links to videos and articles about mindfulness and meditation, and a ten-minute audio meditation download each week for your daily meditation practice. It costs money to register, but it goes to a good cause: building water wells in Ethiopia.

The program was founded by Elise Bialylew, an Australian lady with a beautiful accent, which you can hear on the audio meditation downloads.

Chiro Treatments

I've been having backaches on and off for years, but it got worse after I fell on a slippery sidewalk while walking my dog a few months back. The pain just didn't go away on its own after weeks, so I did something I hadn't done since I was about seven: visit a chiro.

The methods have changed a lot since I was a little kid! First, I lie down with a heating pad and a electric muscle stimulation machine (two electrodes delivering a mild electric current to my back muscles) for ten minutes. Then Dr. Eickhoff uses an Activator, a little instrument to realign the bones in my spine and my body. No smelly ointment or cracking bones or twisting neck involved. It doesn't hurt at all, and it's interesting how he can see exactly which bones need to be adjusted just by looking at me and shaking my feet.

At my first visit, they used a scanner connected to a computer to scan my spine and detect the areas where there is tension. My upper back and neck area showed up as red. I learned that my bad posture might have contributed to the problem, so I raised my laptop to be at eye level, and I have to remember to take breaks once in a while.

Now I have some stretching and strengthening exercises to do every day. I'm hoping my back will be better—permanently—once I'm done with all the treatments. One thing I like about chiros: they don't just remove the symptoms, they fix the cause and educate you in the process.

***

Hopefully, being healthier and more focused will help me gain inspiration for writing, which I haven't done much lately. Sometimes it's good to just take a break and do something totally different.

What are your non-writing goals?

PenPals Editing Services

Breaking news! I've teamed up with my good friend June Saunders to launch PenPals Editing Services.

This means that I am now broadening my services.

On this blog, I've been offering to proofread middle grade novels at a courtesy price in an effort to help self-published authors, and I will continue to do so. But in addition to that, June and I can now take on any kinds of projects, ranging from light proofreading to heavy editing, and including writing and researching.

Let me tell you a little more about my associate.

June has been writing and editing a broad range of documents, stories, and books over the last ten years. She has worked for the United Nations and for other organizations (see her LinkedIn profile for details) and is published in both fiction and non-fiction. She is in the top 4% of Guru freelancers in writing and editing. She has also written a literary historical novel, which is being represented by an agent. She's contributed to 7score10years, a website devoted to the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, and her articles there have been  tweeted by the Smithsonian museum's Civil War project. She is a member of the New Jersey Writers' Haven.

As for me, I have a degree in computer programming, but I ended up writing stories instead of programs. Once I discovered writing (and the wonderful writers community that comes with it), it became a passion. I write and review middle grade novels. I moderate a critique group for children's writers, and I'm the editor at UK Children's Publishing. Being a writer myself, I understand the importance of having an error-free manuscript, whether it be for querying, self-publishing, or requesting a review.

You can read more about us here.

I'm honored to team up with such a talented person, and I'm excited about this new opportunity to expand my services.

Follow us on twitter: @PenPalsEditing, and visit our blog for useful articles related to editing and grammar. You can e-mail us by filling out this form.

11 Questions

A little while ago, Jack Flacco tagged me with the 11 Questions meme. I finally found the time to do it!

Jack is a fellow writer I met on twitter. You really should visit his blog and say hello. He's very friendly and encouraging, and he doesn't bite. I think.

This is how it works:

1. Write eleven random things about yourself.
2. Answer the eleven questions given.
3. Write eleven new questions.
4. Tag someone else.


11 Random Things About Myself
1.  I hardly ever watch TV. I much prefer a good book, or some writing time.
2.  I was born in a small town in Quebec called Val-d'Or (Valley of Gold).
3.  My dad used to work in a gold mine.
4.  I love thunderstorms.
5.  Quebec City is my favorite place in the world.
6.  I love long car trips. A little more challenging now with three kids and a dog, but still.
7.  I visited Paris, China, and Korea.
8.  Did I mention I love travelling?
9.  I studied computer programming in college, but I never worked in that field.
10. I own a Schipperke, a cute little dog with no tail.
11. I believe in miracles.


11 Questions
If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would you go?
That's easy. I would go to England to visit Kurt Chambers, author of the Truth Teller series. Kurt and I are co-moderators of the critique group online we both belong to. He's been my mentor and friend for over two years. I would love to meet him and his family, and to finally learn how to make proper Yorkshire puddings.

If your life were made into a movie, who would you cast as yourself?
Someone once told me I looked like Sally Field.  Haha!! Not sure if I really do, but I'd probably choose her, just because she was so cool as a flying nun.

What's the best place and meal you've ever eaten?
I would say a Korean restaurant in New York City, when I first came to the U.S. I don't remember the name, but I remember the amazing meal we had there. I absolutely love bulgogi!

Where do you prefer to go if you want to just be alone and think?
I go to the mountain near where I live. It's very peaceful there, and I always seem to find inspiration and answers to my questions whenever I go there to pray or just to sort out my thoughts. This is also where my first novel was born, so it's very special to me. I wrote the first few paragraphs sitting in a gazebo facing a small lake. Some of the settings in that book were inspired by that place.

What are your most and least favorite pizza toppings?
Favorite: Pineapple (unlike Jack, who apparently chose it as his least favorite topping). Least favorite: Anchovies.

How do you calendar? Paper, phone, whiteboard, etc?
I use a planner I carry with me at all times, and MS Outlook for work appointments and reminders.

What did you have for breakfast this morning?
A Russian tea cake my co-worker bought from the bakery near where we work.

If you were given a million dollars [tax exempt], what would you do first?
I would make my wish come true (see next question).

What is something you wish for every day?
Can't tell or it won't come true! ;) I'm such a teaser, I know.

What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink?
Raspberry lemonade.

Name one thing you love about yourself, physically or otherwise?
Everything! I'm so awesome. :D Okay, just one thing? Um... my humility.


11 New Questions
1.  How did you get your ideas for your most recent book?
2.  What makes your books different from others in your genre?
3.  What is your biggest challenge as a writer?
4.  What other hobbies or occupations do you have besides writing?
5.  What's your favorite book in the genre that you write?
6.  What's your favorite quote or expression?
7.  Are you a listener or a talker?
8.  Name one thing you couldn't live without.
9.  What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten?
10. If you were an animal, what would it be?
11. Name three adjectives that best describe you.


Tag Someone Else
I don't have to tag 11 people, do I? I might do that anyway, just for fun.

Jess
Marcia Hoehne
Gina Carey
Karen Jones Gowen
Kristen Wixted
Barbara Ann Watson
Robyn Lucas
Melanie Conklin
Jess Keating
Michael G.G.
Akoss

Tag, you're it! Looking forward to reading your posts!

Tim Tams, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Snickerpoodles

As promised, here is my long awaited post about Tim Tams.  I tasted these wonderful Australian cookies for the first time during the holidays last year, when Tania (one of my awesome critique partners) sent me several flavors of them for Christmas. They were amazing!! A Tim Tam is made of two chocolate cookies with cream filling in between and coated in chocolate. There are many different flavors, Chewy Caramel, Classic Dark, and White being my favorites.

I learned to do the Tim Tam Slam, which means biting off one small part at each end of the cookie, and using it as a straw to sip coffee or any other hot beverage of your choice.  The cookie gets all warm and soggy and practically disintegrates in your mouth when you eat it. Mmmmm!  Getting hungry just thinking about it. The trick is to sip coffee until some of it goes all the way through to your mouth, and then stuff the whole cookie in your mouth at once. Very messy, but so good!

I was so happy about my Tim Tams that I let my whole critique group online know how much I loved them.  As a result, Louisa (another one of my amazing critique partners) sent me some more for my birthday in January!  I have the best friends in the world.  And now I just found out Pepperidge Farm is starting to sell them in the U.S.! I haven't seen any in stores yet, but I'll keep my eyes open.

As another result of my love of Tim Tams, I recently won a cookie recipe book on @MGMafioso's blog, by tweeting about what my favorite cookies were.  The Cookiepedia became a family favorite recipe book in no time. It has recipes for 50 classic cookies, all illustrated in color, and many ideas for variations.  Love it!

The kids tried a chocolate chip recipe yesterday, while I cooked my turkey, pumpkin pies, and too many side dishes.  They made them a little too big, so they spread into a huge cookie rectangle as they cooked. I had to cut them into squares. But they were gooooood!  And as we speak, my eldest daughter and her friend are trying out a blondie recipe.  Can't wait to see how it turns out! Stay tuned on Twitter for some pictures of their masterpiece.

I love baking during the holidays.  Last year, we tried a Snickerdoodle recipe for a contest and we won!  We shaped it as a poodle and called it Snickerpoodle.

What's your favorite cookie?

To Blog Or Not To Blog

Do you sometimes find yourself so busy that you hardly have time to write a new blog post?

Well, now is one of those times for me.

I'll start blogging regularly soon. But sometimes, other things are just more important. I don't know how people who blog every day do it.  I can hardly find the time to blog once a week!

Enough said.

*Going back to revising my novel, building my new Google+ account, and recovering from getting two of my three kids ready and packed for their summer camp.*

I Got Tagged!

Kate tagged me on her blog!  How nice of her. Now I have to answer ALL these questions and tag eight more bloggers.  Sounds like a lot of work!  *rolling sleeves* Okay, here we go!

Do you think you're hot?
Haha!!  Let me guess... This questionnaire was written by a young, single person?  I've been married for 18 years, so I don't really care whether I'm hot or not. I'd rather not be, honestly.  Less trouble.  I think friendliness and kindness are more important than "hotness."

Upload a picture or wallpaper that you're using at the moment.
At home, I'm using a picture of Fallingwater, a famous building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Being an architect, my husband was really interested in visiting this amazing house built on a waterfall.  He took this picture during our visit.

For my work computer, I'm using a picture of a stunning galaxy I found online.  I find it impressive, for some reason, and indigo is one of my favorite colors.

When was the last time you ate chicken meat?
A few days ago.  I cook a lot of meals using chicken.

The song(s) you listened to recently.
Feeling Good, by Muse.  Somehow the lyrics are a good fit for how I feel at the moment.  :)  I hope it lasts! If you had asked me about a month ago, I would have said this song.  Glad the storm is over!  I also listen to Coming Back to Life, by Pink Floyd, a lot recently. Can't get enough of this song!

What were you thinking as you were doing this?
I'm thinking about who I'm going to tag, and what they might answer.  LOL

Do you have nicknames? What are they?
On certain writing websites, my nickname is Dutch Hill Girl, hence the name of my blog.

Tag 8 blogger friends.
Okay! The fun part. *grin*
#1  Ralene Burke
#2  Louisa Clarkson
#3  Frankie (S.M. Blooding)
#4  Jay Eckert
#5  Anastasia Pergakis
#6  Cyndi Tefft
#7  Kurt Chambers
#8  Tania Walsh

(I know some of you have been tagged already, but I'm running out of names.)

Who's listed as #1?
Ralene is an awesome Christian fiction writer, who until very recently was the moderator of the online review forum I've been part of for the last two years, and that I'm now co-moderating with Kurt, listed on #7.  Ralene is a real life angel, performs miracles, and loves absolutely everyone.  Well... I'm exaggerating a little, but not much. ;-)

Say something about #5.
Ah! I have a LOT to say about #5.  Anastasia was once my creative writing teacher.  She founded the Inkwell University, which used to be housed on writing.com under the name of Writer's Academy. I was one of her first student and used to call her Professor. :-)  I have a lot more to say, but it would take a whole page.  Basically, she's a wonderful person who's always ready to help others and is an excellent web designer. In fact, she now has her own business, Anastasia Creatives, and offers her services to writers at a very affordable price. Check her out!

How did you get to know #3?
I practically owe Frankie my writing career. She's the founder of the critique group I belong to, mentioned above (see #1), which is what helped me most so far in developing my writing skills and improving my novel.  The BEST critique group/review forum in the WORLD! I'm quite sure of that.  She taught several workshops about creative writing at the YA Novel Workshop on writing.com, and is now a teacher at Inkwell University (see #5).  She's also a very talented writer, who will soon be published by TLT Publishing. In her own words:  Eeeeeek!  :D So happy for her.  I know she worked hard on these novels. She's one of the few people I met online that I actually had a chance to also meet in person.

How about #4?
Jay is a fellow New Jerseyan who's also part of my critique group... although now he's very busy studying and working and raising his kids, so I doubt he'll even have time to answer these questions, but I tagged him anyway because he's just too awesome to ignore. He's a very skilled writer with an interesting sense of humor, judging by the few chapters of his novel I've read.  He helps other writers by keeping a list of middle grade and young adult publishers and agents on his blog, which he updates regularly.  He's also very helpful in giving feedback and suggestions on everyone's chapters.  In other words, a great guy to know if you're serious about writing.

Leave a message for #6.
Hi, Cyndi! *waves* So happy your book is now in print! You're so much fun to chat with on Twitter, and I'm looking forward to see you around the next WriteOnCon in August. You'll be there, right?  Right?  Don't forget us little people once you're rich and famous selling your book. :D

Leave a lovey dovey message for #2.
Louisa, you're wonderful. You're the best, and I'm so lucky to have you as a friend. Um... Can you please send me some more Tim Tams?  ;-)  Just kidding.  They were SO delicious, but that's not why I appreciate you as a friend.  You're a fun person to be with, a great reviewer that gave me very helpful comments on my novel, and just an interesting person in every way.  Can't wait to finish reading and reviewing your book and to hang out with Isabelle, Boldrick and Mozzy again. When are you coming back on the forum? Miss you!  P.S.  Here's your chance to update your blog, which is looooong overdue. Hum! Hum! Your fans are waiting!

Do #7 and #8 have any similarities?
Oh, yes, they do! Kurt and Tania are both part of my critique group (yeah, most bloggers on my list are, as you can see), they both write for children, and they are both friendly, fun loving people I had a chance to chat with on Skype a few times.  Oh, and they both have foreign accent, Kurt being from England, and Tania from Australia.

Whew! I made it!  I answered every single question. Now your turn!

And I just remembered that I promised to write a blog post about the Tim Tams Louisa and Tania sent me.  In case you're wondering what Tim Tams are, they're ...  wait - I'll explain it in a future blog post.

Speechless!

It was my birthday this week.  I normally don't make a big deal out of it, but this one was so special, I just HAVE to mention it.

The day started with a birthday hug and kiss from hubby, and was filled with so many surprises, I still can't get over it.

I received many birthday messages by snail mail, e-mail, Facebook and phone from family and friends throughout the day.  One e-mail included a story of my life my sister Jocelyne wrote, from the time I was born, complete with a made-up ending where I become rich and famous publishing my books, she wins the lottery, and we both travel and visit other countries.  Hey, it's good to dream!  ;)

My manager treated me to lunch at Toros, a turkish restaurant, and of course I ate too much.

When we got back to the office, flowers from my family in Canada were waiting for me!  Aren't they beautiful?

 My manager stepped out and came back with a cake.  She and my co-worker sang Happy Birthday to me while I sat awkwardly at my desk, not knowing what to do with myself.

 Then ANOTHER surprise came, a bouquet of pink roses from my dear husband.  I nearly fainted!

I received a birthday review from Kurt in my critique group, giving me useful suggestions on how to improve my novel's first chapter.  This was the first time someone commented on one of my chapters since I did my major revision, so I was really happy to get some feedback.

You'd think my birthday was pretty awesome already?  There's more!  Hubby treated me to dinner at Sakura-Bana, a Japanese restaurant.  I loooooove sushi!  It was nice to spend some time with him without kids squabbling and asking when we're going home every five minutes. And I'm sure they enjoyed their pizza a lot more than ("ewwww!") raw fish.  We don't do that very often, so it was quite a treat.

How awesome is that!  Everyone was so nice to me all day, and I continued receiving birthday wishes and more reviews from my critique group, from Kate and Emerin the following day.

There's more to come!  Louisa asked me for my address to send me some more Tim Tams from Australia.  Many of you probably don't know what Tim Tams are, and you're missing something!  They are Australian cookies, and there's a special way to eat them, which I discovered when Tania sent me some for Christmas.  I should write a blog post about that next.

My sister promised to celebrate my birthday next time I go visit them in Canada.  According to her, it's never too late or too early to celebrate a birthday.  Any time six months before or after a birthday is acceptable.

Thanks, everyone, for making my birthday so special!  Can it be my birthday again today?  And tomorrow?  And the day after that?

Holiday Baking

I spent a lot of time baking with the kids during the holidays. There's something special about mixing cookie ingredients, sampling it while no one is looking, shaping the soft, sticky dough with our hands, and smelling the wonderful aroma coming from the oven and slowly filling the whole house.  Not to mention the taste of freshly baked cookie when they are still warm from the oven.  Mmm!

My online critique group held a snickerdoodle baking contest, and mine won first prize! :)  Lucky I had the help of my very creative daughters.  Tara came up with the name - snickerpoodle (which triggered the idea of shaping it like a poodle), and Elissa helped me make it.  Turned out pretty good, didn't it?

This cherry cheesecake is my specialty.  It's always the first thing I think of when I need to bring something to a pot luck dinner.  And best of all, it only has six ingredients!  Yeah, okay, it has a lot of calories, but it's the holidays!  We're allowed to cheat. ;)

I used to make these cheesecakes long ago, when I worked in a boat sales office, and sell them at the seafood restaurant on the same property.

Don't ask me what this cookie is supposed to be.  A bear?  A mouse?  I'm still not sure.  I shaped the head and the ears and Tara made the face all by herself.  It was my son's idea years ago to make peanut butter jelly cookies.  The idea stuck and now every time I make peanut butter cookies, I have to add a touch of jelly to them, to follow our tradition.

There was still some extra dough left, after two trays of regular cookies and the... bear? mouse? ... the other one.  So we made dominoes with it!

They didn't end up as square as they were originally, though.  And there weren't enough of them to play a game, so we just ate them.

Our next project?  Making a gingerbread house, from scratch!  We do it every year, some time between Christmas and New Year.  The best part is decorating it with all the candies.  I suspect more candies end up in my kids' mouths than on the house itself, but it's all part of the fun.

More Than a Feeling

Several of my reviewers asked me to put more emotion in my stories. "Emotion is good!" they told me. It got me thinking about the many ways we show emotion in real life and in writing. It got me thinking about love. Is love merely another emotion, or is it more than just a feeling?

This morning, I read an interview with Larry Dossey, MD about the scientific evidence that love can heal. Dr. Dossey is the executive editor of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine journal, and the author of nine books on health and healing.

I found the interview so interesting, I thought I'd share one section of it with you. Here's what Dr. Dossey has to say about love and healing:

In the 1980s, I began to look at all the studies I could find that had to do with intention in healing -- that is, the deliberate attempt of physicians and healers to use their wishes and desires to help a patient get better. This often takes the form of prayer. As I explored this area, it became clear to me that the bottom line of intention and prayer was love and caring. According to the studies I was reviewing, it didn't seem to matter what religion people belonged to. What was important in effecting healing through prayer was the love and compassion the healer felt for the person being healed.

So I started going into the office earlier and created a healing ritual, in which I entered into a meditative state, thought about each of the patients I would see that day and sent them healing, loving and compassionate thoughts. I got to the point where if I didn't do this ritual, I felt it constituted an ethical breach -- like withholding a needed surgical procedure. I get many letters from doctors who have had the same type of experience and found it has had a positive effect on their patients' health.

Amazing, isn't it?  Don't we all wish we had a doctor who cares that much about our health?  I think just knowing my doctor prayed for me would help me heal faster.  :D

Dr. Dossey was talking about physical healing, but I believe love can do more than that. It can heal emotional scars as well. And there are many other ways, besides prayer, that love can heal. Sometimes a simple smile or a few words said at the right time can make a world of difference in someone else's life.

The interview reminded me of the title of a song I love:



What are your thoughts on this?  Can love heal?  Have you ever prayed for someone, out of love and compassion, and seen a concrete result?

What's In My Handbag?

Ever wondered what I'm carrying in my handbag?  No?  Well, I'll tell you anyway.

Frankie tagged me and four others with this What's In My Handbag post, so now I have to list everything that's currently in my bag. 

Okay, I have:

1) My wallet, filled with the usual stuff: cards and more cards, receipts, money, driver's license, pictures of my kids, autograph, ... The usual stuff.

2) My planner, including address book, calendar, and business cards.

3) Three notebooks: one to keep track of my writing goals, one to actually write, and one for everything else.

4) Black pens.  I had seven at my last count.  I'm so terrified of leaving without a pen, I always add one for good measure before I go anywhere... until I can't find a single pen in the house and empty my purse to find out where they all went.

5) My cell phone.  Ahh, I love my cell phone.  I had an ancient one for so long, and this one I just got has internet access and a little keyboard for texting and EVERYTHING!  I know, I'm behind my time.

6) BJ's coupon book (which I always forget to use, until they're all expired).

7) A pack of gum (leftover from our trip to Canada - I don't chew gum usually).

8) Nail clipper, tweezers, mirror, lipstick, tissues, and... eyeglass repair kit.  Huh?! I wear contacts. How long has this been in there?

9) A train ticket to NYC (already used - throwing it away).

10) Some loose change.

11) Two sets of keys - one for the office with a memory stick attached to it, and one for car/home.

12) Um... women stuff.

That's it!

Now I'm tagging...

Louisa, who just started a blog. Big welcome to blogger's world!
Tamara, who just got a new baby girl.  Congrats!
Cheree, who reviewed every single chapter of my novel.  Big thanks!

Rachel, who hasn't posted on her blog since her trip to Europe. Now's your chance!

Trip to Canada

It's been a busy summer so far, and I haven't had much time to blog.  I thought I'd keep it light and simple by sharing some pictures of our recent trip to Canada. 

How to survive a ten-hour car trip with three kids and a dog:
1)  Go to the craft store and buy a bunch of little surprises.
2)  Wrap them individually and number them from 1 to 10.
3)  Print a map and mark numbers from 1 to 10 at regular intervals.
4)  During the trip, let them open one surprise at a time as you pass each number on the map, and enjoy some peace and quiet as they create masterpieces.

Two of their favorite surprises were plain metal lunchboxes they decorated with scrapbook stickers, foam letters and glitter glue, and a Mad Lib story pad.

Happy 70th Birthday!
The reason for our trip was to celebrate my dad's 70th birthday.  Doesn't he look young and healthy like a young man?  I'm so proud of my dad.  He has always been a source of inspiration for me.  I have fond memories of my youth, where he took us camping, taught us how to ride a bike, or just spent quality time with us.  If I could describe him in a few words, I would say he's kind, trustworthy, and he has a heart as deep as the ocean.  I took it for granted back then, but now I realize as an adult that not everyone had that chance of having caring parents raising them with good values. 

I love you, Dad!

A home away from home
My mom rented a cottage for the occasion.  To spend the whole weekend with my parents, my brother and sister and their partners, and my lovely niece who will soon be 19, was priceless. 

The cottage was right next to a river, with plenty of wooded area where the kids had fun doing a treasure hunt, looking for dinosaurs and other toys my mom had hidden.  At night, we had a camp fire and roasted marshmallows.  I miss the Canadian fresh nights, when we slept with the windows open.  No need for A/C.  Ahhh!  How refreshing!

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth
On the way back, we stopped for a barbecue dinner at my husband's sister's house near Albany, NY.  It was a good break from all this driving, and it was great to see my in-laws again.

While we ate scallops wrapped in bacon (hmmm!), hot dogs and hamburgers, a huge bug started hovering around the flowers next to the porch.  At first, my kids thought it was a humongous bee, but it had a feeding tube, much like a hummingbird.  I looked it up when I got back and found out it was a hummingbird clearwing moth.  A very big name for a very strange bug!  I had never seen anything like that in my life.

Baby Bird Rescue

We heard chirping in the attic one morning, a few weeks ago. A family of grackles had made a nest in our attic, going through the vent trap. It was a very hot day, and we knew we had to do something or the birds would die of dehydration. My husband climbed up there and rescued four baby birds. Some were stuck behind a beam and he had to make a hole our bedroom ceiling in order to get them out.

They had no feathers, just a little black fuzz. Their eyes weren't even open yet. We fed them water with a spoon, one drop at a time, being careful not to touch them. They were starving, poor things!

We kept them in a box, using some of the straw they had used for their attic nest as a liner. While my husband and the kids went shopping for material to make a bird house, I looked online to find out how to take care of newborn baby birds. I found out they have to eat every twenty minutes throughout the day. There was a recipe with boiled eggs and milk, supposedly the best food for baby birds. I ended up feeding them tiny pieces of wet bread, using chopsticks.

Shadow barked every time someone came close to the box, which was placed on a high, cat-proof shelf. He was so eager to see what was in the box, but I couldn't let him get too close.

I was in charge of feeding them every time the timer beeped, while the rest of my family built a bird house. It helps to have a handyman as a husband. He had a custom designed bird house ready in no time.

We transferred the babies into a bowl to be able to use the same straw as a liner for their new home.

My husband installed the bird house on the side of our house, near the trap where their old nest used to be, accessible through our bedroom window. Mommy Grackle found her babies and busied herself going back and forth bringing them food. My job as a baby bird nurse was over!

Three days later, the babies are settled in their new home. Don't they look comfy in there?

A week later, they're starting to have feathers. Their eyes are open! Sadly, one of the babies died. But three survived. That's very good news. Sometimes none of them survive after being handled by humans.

Two weeks later, their feathers are fully grown. Aren't they much cuter than when they were just born?

Three weeks later, we found no birds in the house. They learned how to fly! Mission accomplished!

Me throughout the years

My first birthday
This picture was taken in the house where I was born, in a small town called Val-d'Or, in Quebec, Canada.  My first words were in French.  I only learned English much later, as a second language in school.

I was fascinated by the candle.  I eventually tried to eat it, but the wax didn't taste as yummy as it looked.

Pig tails and a grin
I didn't change much, did I?  Except for the pig tails.

Don't I look like a little angel?  I was, actually, although my brother and sister would tell you that I was very bossy and sometimes extremely cranky.  Don't listen to them.  A picture is worth a thousand words, right?

Lion heads
The wider, the better, according to the mid-1980s style.  A perm, a little teasing, and a LOT of hairspray will do the trick.

Do I look like my elder sister (right)?  Some people used to ask us if we were twins, although we're six years apart.  We used to fight like cats and dogs as kids, but we became best friends when I joined her in Quebec City to go to college.  Here we are, in a retro cafe, having our favorite dessert: brownie with ice cream and hot fudge.  Mmm!

Be fruitful, multiply...
... and be busy for the rest of your life.  They are my pride, my inspiration, and my reason for living.

There's nothing like a pile of Christmas presents to get everyone to grin on a picture.