Mammograms

Today, I go for my yearly check up.

Reminding all my friends (yes, that means you!) to get your mammos done too. If you have already done it this year, or are not scheduled to have one yet, I'll get off your case. But for those of you who need to get in there, what are you waiting for?

Sure it's uncomfortable (no body parts enjoy being squished) and takes a little time (minutes people, not days), and may feel a bit awkward being manipulated onto that machine, but do it.

Please, for those of us who love you.

Kisses,

Kimberley

What a Great Day--Breast Cancer Walk

Last Saturday my boys and I walked in the Strides Walk to help raise money for Breast Cancer.

It touched me that I was able to help out, just a little.

There were so many heroes there. It was truly awe-inspiring.

The survivor stories brought tears to my eyes, but so did the shear numbers of people walking. There were husbands, sons, firefighters, friends, teams and people like me--who simply want to help my sisters.

The announcer told us that there are 11 million survivors. Now that's something to jump for joy about.

Stay well, my friends.

Moving On

I'm having a tough time sitting down to write my next book.

Really dragging my feet...typing fingers weighted with sand...thinking vacuuming might be a better idea.

What in the world is wrong with me? *checks forehead* I'm not running a fever.

I just finished writing what I believe is one of my best books ever and it is time to move on to the next one. Heck, I have three stories ready to go, why can't I just move on? But maybe that's the answer.

The book I just finished was very emotionally charged. It required me to dig deeper into myself and pour raw and scary feeling onto the page all for the sake of an honest story. And in the end, I fell in love. With the characters, their strength in the face of extreme hardships, their devotion to one another. It is an aching, searching for love and finally finding it against all odds type of story.

It's like having a great love affair that I don't want to end yet. This kind of mini-depression is what I feel when I read a REALLY AWESOME book. I don't want it to be over. I am sad at the end.

And then it struck me--I am becoming a better writer! I depressed myself.

Now that is something to smile about.

Have you ever been sad to come to THE END of a book?

Walk a Mile in Your Shoes

At the start of summer I downloaded the Nike GPS App to track my walking mileage. I walk every day for an hour or so, but had no real idea how far I went. Now I had the means to measure the distance.

For the three months of summer I walked...Are you ready?

138 Miles!

Holy Toledo! Or Holy Los Angeles, might be more like it if I walked from here. Who knew I walked that much? You'd think I'd be skinnier. Maybe I'd better stop rewarding myself with scones at the end and/or beginning of the walk. Yeah...

Anyway, it wasn't hard. 138 miles equates to 11.5 miles per week. That's only 1.6 miles per day. Barely anything.

And the benefits?

Well, there are those yummy scones I mentioned (bad girl), my jeans fit pretty nicely, I got a new pair of shoes (see picture above), breathed a whole bunch of fresh air, luxuriated in the pure form of vitamin D, smelled the flowers, worked out those writing kinks, and enjoyed myself.

So what have you got to lose? Get out there and move it. Maybe I'll see you on the road.

Thank God Friday

I don't know about you guys, but it's been a wild week around here. I thought I'd take a moment and focus on the good stuff. You know, say my thanks.

I'm thankful for:
Family. No mother could be prouder of her boys. No wife more in love with her hubby. My parents and sister are the best who ever lived. I scored great in-laws as well. I am blessed with family. As time goes on, I am becoming more aware of time going on. I want to snatch these people up and hang onto them forever, but I can't make them live in my sock drawer, can I? I have to remember to tell them how much I love them every chance I get.

Words. I'm thankful for every time that the words come and the stories flow.

A job. I have a day job that allows me to work half-time and write the other half. I know I'm lucky.

My friends. I have friends who get me--my quirks, weird sense of humor, obsessions, worries, loves. They get me and continue to like me. That's priceless.

My great country. For all it's problems, I am honored, blessed and overjoyed to live here. Wouldn't trade my country for any other.

That's enough for now. It's your turn. Right here, right now. What are you thankful for?

What Circus Job Would You Choose?

Selena Robins interviewed me at Selena Robins Musings and asked all the tough questions.

Circus Clown anyone? Bearded lady? Fire Breather?
My answers might surprise you.

Leave a comment and be entered for a chance to win a free Catch Me in Castile ebook.

A Writer Gets Her Groove On

Over at the Gem State Writers, I am talking about how it took me 20 years to write my first novel. And why that's not a bad thing.

Gem State Writers