May 4, 2012 - What Have I Been Up To?

Since its been almost a year since I've really participated here, you might be curious about what I've been up to.  After my Mother died (soon will be one year), I got a big surge of energy.  I suppose I didn't realize just how much energy I was using in supporting her in her last few months.  I got her place at the Assisted Living Facility cleaned out and her apartment at my brother's house (with my brother and sister-in-law of course).  We donated many of her things to charity and gave the rest to family.  Once that was taken care of, I finally got Warren's garage cleaned out and many of you will remember I'd been working on that off and on for 3 years.

On August 23rd we had a very rare, and quite unexpected earthquake (5.8).  Which didn't do a lot of damage here but did shake the building I live in.  As it so happened my son had dropped by that morning and was still here, so I wasn't alone when it happened.  It snarled traffic as the Government released people early and of course tied up all the phone lines for hours.  My granddaughter was home alone that day and when I couldn't reach her by phone, my son and I drove to her house to check on her.  Her Mom was home with her by the time we got there.  The quake was centered in Mineralville, VA.  Supposedly we had had a smaller one the year before (3.6) that was closer to where I live, but that wasn't felt in my area at all.  As my daughter said without moving, we went from some place that doesn't have earthquakes to some place that does.  It amps up your sense of vulnerability that's for sure.  There have been several after shocks, some of which I've felt and some I haven't.

A little over a week later (August 27-28) we got hit with Hurricane Irene.  There was a lot of wind and rain of course and I lost power around midnight on the 27th.  I woke up to the sound of dripping (never a good sound to hear in the middle of the night).  I went in my bathroom with the flashlight and thought I had walked into one of those creepy alien invasion movies where the alien eggs were getting ready to hatch.  Water was accumulating between the dry wall and the layer of latex paint on it forming hanging water balloons that were dripping and eventually burst.  They were luckily hanging over the bath tub, so most of the water was contained.  The ceiling is damaged of course, but there was no sense in fixing it until the building is repaired to prevent future leaking.  (Water incursion has been an ongoing problem in this community from incorrect installation of the flashing around the windows.  Since that time the we settled with the builder before having to go to trial.  An eight month restoration period is planned beginning this summer in which all 4 buildings will be made water tight.)

In September I started writing a book "Lot's Wife" which is still waiting to be finished.



In October I took a trip out to the Pacific Northwest again and visited with friends in Oregon and Washington.  As soon as I got home I dove into National Novel Writing Month and managed to finish writing 50,000 words in 28 days which made me a "winner" in that contest.  (All you have to do is write 50,000 words within the month to win).  That book "The Godwin Factor" is finished except for some more editing.
Since then I've started a sequel to "The Godwin Factor" entitled "A Limited Engagement" and have started making notes on another story "Sharp Pointy Things".

After Thanksgiving my son and his family moved to North Carolina (outside Raleigh).

In January I became a Great Grandmother when my son's step-daughter Amber had her first baby; a little girl named Analiese.

I ran out of energy and creativity and have been pretty inert for most of the late winter and early spring.  Spring is always hard energy for me to ramp up to for some reason.  Even acupuncture didn't help very much this year.  I think I'm finally getting there though.

I think that should catch you all up.  Have a lovely day!