So, this is 30, huh?

More than halfway through my day and I am so happy. All the love I've been receiving from friends and family on social media and texts have just made me smile more and more.

I've had my ups and downs the past years of my life. Friends have moved to the other end of the country. Family members have passed away. I've been bullied and broken hearted. But I've also reunited with friends who have moved, watched family grow up, stood at friends' weddings, learned to stand up for myself, found my life passion and started working to make it a career, and found the ability to love again.

So, here's to more memories, more stories, and more ups than downs in the coming years. And I look forward to sharing them with my readers here. Thank you all.

Carey

Last Day

Well, it's here. Tomorrow I begin a new decade and a new chapter in life. I thought it funny and appropriate that I heard Tim McGraw's "My Next 30 Years" on the radio on the ride home from work today.

As a little celebratory treat, I picked up a bottle of wine for tonight and one for family dinner tomorrow. I have until 1:00 to figure out what I want to eat. May be doing some Pinterest browsing for something exciting.

But the song got me thinking. How do I want to spend my next 30 years. So I came up with a kind of resolution list. No particular order.

1) Stick up for myself more- I'm normally a quiet person and when someone gives me a hard time I tend to keep it in so not to cause drama. Well, some people take silence for weakness. Not any more. When something is bothering me I need to learn to speak out and let whoever know otherwise I'll be doormat girl my whole life.

2) Travel more- This is both going places I've never been and returning to places I've seen and loved. I want to see the world and experience different cultures and learn more history. It'll help me learn and grow and it's inspiration for my writing.

3) Get published! That will hopefully start at the end of the year with my first novel with many more to come in the future. Really excited to see what happens with that.

4) Move- I don't like to say I write for the money because I don't. But I do hope that my book sales will provide me with enough so I am able to get my own place. A small apartment somewhere is fine by me, even.

5) New car- I like my car and can probably squeeze another couple thousand miles out of it. But I think it will be time for something new in the next few years. It'd be nice to have a MP3 hook up and all the cool stuff that became standard on cars the year after mine. I've always wanted a truck, actually. Not a big super cab gas guzzler. But something I'm comfortable driving in the snow here without worrying I'm going to die. And I can take on road trips.

6) Try new things whenever possible- Whether that's going to a new city or sampling a new food or even something like reading an unfamiliar author. Life is too short not to try and have as many experiences as you possibly can.

7) Value friends and family more- Over recent weeks, some family members have had some major medical issues and it's made me see how fragile life can be and how you never know what could happen in the blink of an eye. So I need to learn to say "I love you" more and make more of an effort to spend time with the people closest to me. No matter how much work I have or how tired I may be. Sometimes you have to suck it up and make the effort because it could be your last chance.

8) Celebrate! I learned this a few years ago when a close friend was battling cancer. They didn't know what the outcome would be and she was only 2 years older than me. Happy to say that she is 7 years cancer free. But she drove me crazy because when she turned 30, she was moping about all the things she hadn't done yet. Not married, no kids, and the list went on. I told her "You survived cancer! Take a trip. Go dancing! Just thank God for every day you can wake up and see the sun shine!" When I started having my issues with Rheumatoid Arthritis, I was upset but I knew I couldn't park myself on the couch and have a pity party. I had to drag my bucket out of bed regardless of the pain I was in and go to work or do my laundry. I made the most of my good days, which are becoming more frequent now that I am receiving proper medical care. And I push through the bad as best I can.

That's my list. Odd to stop at 8, I know but the wine is getting to my head and I can't think. Just want to sleep now.

Have a great night, everyone!

Carey

Final Week

Well, here it is. I am in the final week of my 20s. I can hardly believe it sometimes. Where did the past near 3 decades of my life go?

At the same time I'm freaking out, I am also excited. Another chapter in my life is about to begin and I have no idea what is going to happen. I am nearing the completion of my first draft of my novel and am planning on having it published by the end of the year. I am in a relationship with a wonderful man, even if he does drive me bonkers at times, and we'll be together for one year this summer. I've been learning how to cook. I want to travel a lot more once I fix my car. My sister and I are making concert plans.

We'll see what the next ten years have in store. I'm off to work on my draft. About 2/3 done.

Carey

Ode to My Grandmothers

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
That is what they say.
But with you gone, my heart is sadder
With every passing day.
I think of the good times we had.
And, also, those that were sad.
You always had a kind word,
When I was in despair.
Always optimistic, you made me smile.
You always said you'd be around for a long long while.
But God, I fear, had other plans
And did not let you stay.
He couldn't bear to see you ill.
So, he took you away.
Your memory still burns strong,
Like an inferno in my heart.
And I think of how I love you,
Even though we are apart.
And though I want to cry,
When I think of you not seen...

I know that you smile on me,
With your silver angel wings.

Happy Mother's Day

Hi everyone,
Wow, it's been a while. Sorry. But I'm on vacation from Day Job so I'll be doing lots of writing.

But today I wanted to tell you about the most influential and important woman in my life. In honor of Mother's Day.

My wonderful mom. My best friend, shoulder to cry on, confidante, and hero. She, and Dad, have sacrificed so much for me and my sister. She's held us when we scraped our knees or broke up with boyfriends. She sewed Halloween and play costumes. We've driven her crazy. We've made her laugh. My sister and I would fight like cats when we were little. Complete with hair pulling. Occasionally there was bloodshed. (I got knocked into a nightstand and cut my back on a sharp corner. Still got the scar.) And an odd trip to the ER while playing in the yard. (Line drive to the head 3 days before my 18th birthday) And who knows what else life has in store but no matter what, I know I can count on Mom to support me.

So, today, give your mom an extra hug and kiss. If you live far away, call her. (Actually call and have a conversation. Skype works, too.) If your mom is no longer alive, say a prayer of thanks, pull out the old photo album or scrapbook and reminisce about the good times.

Love you, Mama. Thank you for everything.

Vlog return?

Hey everyone,
I have some possibly good news today. I may be finally able to get my laptop fixed! Restrain the happy dance right now, though. I spoke to a friend of mine who is going to look at it. He is a tech genius so hopefully he will be able to work some magic and fix my computer and then I can write like a normal person and print my work without having to bum my parents computers and I can get back to vlogging! I really miss making videos on YouTube. So keep your fingers crossed that this works.

Good night!
*Carey

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 11- Dream Scene

Making progress in my novel. This is a dream scene I came up with today. Keep in mind, this is a first draft. Let me know what you think!

She was in the middle of the woods. The moon was full and bright, shining through the trees to light her path. Leaves crunched underfoot as she walked. The trees were full and a deeper green than she had ever seen in her life.

The path led further and further into the woods. It felt like no time at all had passed, though. As she moved, sights and smells began to change. The trees began to thin out to reveal the entrance of a clearing. The distinct smell of a bonfire began to fill the air. Tara could smell herbs or some kind of insense being burned with the wood.

When she entered the clearing, she was amazed at what she saw. A huge bonfire fully blazing in the center of the clearing. The pile of wood was as tall as she was. The flames reached toward the tree tops. But they were ot the typical orange and yellow of the many backyard party fires Tara had experienced. It wa bright blue, and a bluish green in the center. A group of hooded figures stood in a circle around the blaze singing in a language Tara had ever heard. She did not understand but the perfect harmony if female voices as they chanted was beautiful. It sounded like some kind of prayer.

Tara was so wrapped up in the scene before her she was oblivious to the harsher sound coming through the trees. A gunshot pierced the serenity of the scene and shook her. She stood paralyzed as men with weapons and torches swarmed in from every direction. The women shrieked as they were aprehended. Some tried to run. Others tried to fight back, protecting those who were too young or too old. Sobs mixed with the screams as a pair of sisters were pulled apart by some of the men.

A log escaped the pile and the flames began to catch the grass and trees. Now, sheer panic erupted. Women screamed. Men shouted. And, somewhere in the distance, a voice called Tara's name.

"Tara!  Wake up!" Wake up? What? She felt a hand grab her. Fearing it was one of the men with weapons, she reacted. She cried out and thrashed with all her might...

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 4

Okay, so I didn't get any reading done today on my novel. But I did manage to add a little bit more to my short story that I am planning on having published sometime this month. Thanks for the fantastic reviews that I received from someone on fictionpress, I started getting a few more ideas on what I could add to the story.

Don't get me wrong. I really like how my short story turned out. But I always felt like it was missing something. I just wasn't sure what. The person who reviewed my story pointed out a few details that I was missing. So today while I was playing music at my church fish fry, I took my draft and started making a few notes. Over the next few days I plan on adding to the story can have a second draft posted on fictionpress by the end of the week to replace the first already up.

My plan is to have the story finished and published by the end of April. If that does not work out, then definitely by the end of May I will have it available on Kindle. My friend who is a really talented artist is helping me with my cover design.

I am off to add some more to the story before I go to bed. Hoping to get up and add some more before work in the morning because I will be out late tomorrow night.

Have a good night!
~Carey

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 2

It is nearly the end of day 2 and I have made tremendous progress in my word goal. I am up to 5100 words! I got up super early, sat at the kitchen table and just wrote. I wrote two chapters and my eyes felt like they were about to fall out of my head.

I'll be so happy when I get my laptop power cord in the mail. It will make typing at home a lot easier.

Tomorrow I have the day off. Going to write in the morning and then go to a friend's to watch a movie. Then choir practice.

I am pretty confident I can meet and even exceed my goal before the month is out. I just have to keep up the pace as much as I can, especially on my days off.

I am really excited about where the story is going. Kind of off to a slow start. But that can be fixed in the editing process.

Off to get a little more work done. I'll update my count tomorrow!

Carey

Camp NaNoWriMo Day 1

Well, it begins. Another month of insanity as I try to bust out (at least part) of my novel. Except this time, I WILL NOT REPEAT NOVEMBER AND LOSE IT! I have backed it up on my tablet and my flash drive is attached to my keys and I'll save it yo my computer once I get my power cord again.

My goal for the month is 25,000 words. I tried to get some done last night but I was writing in bed and my neck hurt. So I wrote 248 words in 15 minutes. Not bad, I guess. I slept in so no pre-work writing. I'm taking my stuff with me to work on when I watch Boy bowl tonight.

Time to get ready for work. I am off tomorrow and Thursday so massive amounts of writing will be done those days (in between laundry loads)

Have a good day!
Carey