…thus, I’m behind on my blogging. I could give you the litany of things that are keeping me from my true love, writing—both blogs and novels, but that’s not very interesting. Instead, here’s a quick update on my darling friend, Dee. She’s waiting to hear from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Her oncologist had Mayo send all her test results down there. They’re famous for diagnosing sarcomas and he feels strongly that we need a second opinion before we start pouring chemistry into her. So, basically, we’re still waiting. But Dee is back to work and pretty much maintaining her sanity by taking it day by day. We went…

The older I get, the more I crave community—like-minded people who enjoy the same things I do, who believe in the same things I believe in, who want the same things I want. Not just in the social sense, but in all areas of my life. It’s why I joined the local chapter of Romance Writers of America when I began writing again. It’s why I belong to the Editorial Freelancers Association, why I meet up with my fellow local freelancers every so often, and why I read the blogs I read and participate with comments. It might even be why I rejoined Facebook after leaving for a while, although…

With permission, I’m going to tell you about what’s been going on in my world for the last few weeks and why I haven’t been as a good a blogger as usual. I’m having a tough time focusing on much of anything right now because my heart and mind are so absorbed by my sister/friend, Dee. She’s in trouble…medical trouble. After seven arduous weeks of testing that included two weeks at Mayo Clinic, she’s been diagnosed with liposarcoma of the retroperitoneum. Google it if you want more details, but suffice to say, she has a malignant tumor in the back of her abdominal cavity and it’s sort of taken over…

…and unable to think. I haven’t posted in about two weeks and that makes me very grumpy, but here’s the thing. My life is overwhelmed with work right now. Not a complaint, simply a fact. And my brain is so fried by the end of the day that I can’t come up with a decent blog topic to save my soul. I’m so grateful that the salvation of my soul doesn’t depend on my producing a scintillating blog because right now, I’d be in deep trouble. So how about some pictures of our trip to see our new little grandson last month? I knew you’d be thrilled. First, Nanny, Pops,…

My friend Lora at LitDiva does a nifty thing each month called Memos that I find fun and charming and witty. I thought I’d give it a try here. So, with a nod to LitDiva, here goes. Dear Mother Nature, I’m over the drought and the heat wave. The lake water was 90 degrees this weekend—really too warm to be all the refreshing. Temps in 100s and 90s can stop now. Swelteringly yours, Nan   Dear Walmart, Love, love your Spring Valley Glucosamine/Chondroitin orange creme chews. Ever since I started using them, my arthritic  knees and hips actually move immediately when I rise from a seated position instead of  having…

I’ve rediscovered dresses. Okay, so not fancy, like-we-use-to-wear-to-church dresses. You remember those? They required ironing and pantyhose? No, not those dresses. I’ve found sundresses. Cute, knit ones that have an empire waist and come in fun vibrant colors and patterns. This is news only because I haven’t worn a dress in ages. It isn’t that I’m not perfectly feminine, I totally am. I’m into all things girly. But when you work at home, it’s hard to motivate yourself to dress up much. My “go to work” clothes are pretty much the same every day—yoga pants, a tank top, and a hoodie. The only thing that changes is the length of…

I’m going to be a grandmother and probably sooner than later at this point since DIL is home on rest and quiet after yesterday’s checkup with the obstetrician. We’re sending all kinds of “stay put, kid!” energy to the little jumping bean because he needs just a couple more weeks in the oven. So, if you’ve got some good energy to spare, send it out to DIL, okay? Thanks! The naming thing has been on my mind. The writer in me objects to being called just plain “Grandma.” I know that’s probably bratty. Grandma is a perfectly acceptable moniker and there’s no reason why our little JB can’t call both…

I know this because our catalpa tree is flowering and that’s a sign that June is close. The tree is currently a riot of snowy blossoms and it sits right at the end of our driveway. I can hear the cars slowing out on the road; I’m sure they’re admiring our ancient catalpa. When we first built our house, a man stopped by one day and asked if he could check the tree for catalpa worms—apparently, they’re great for fishing. Who knew? Catalpas are indigenous to our state, so you see them around a lot. We don’t know how old ours is, but we think it’s pretty old because it’s…

It’s been five months since I went the to E.R. with a racing heart, which was diagnosed as AV Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia (we in the biz just call it AVNRT). Basically, my heart goes off into a funky fast rhythm for no apparent reason beyond I have a glitch in my electrical system. It had been doing this regularly since I turned 54, but the last time it happened, I couldn’t get it to stop on my own. Thus, the trip to the E.R., the diagnosis, and now I have a cardiologist. Jeez, does anything sound older than “I have an appointment with my cardiologist’? Well, last Friday, I had…