One other thing that came out of this last week is the interesting people I’d met. There was Kathie Giorgio who spoke at a recent WisRWA meeting. Very knowledgeable and very enthusiastic. There was the bartender I met at a local restaurant called “Baccus” here in Milwaukee. Hubby and I had a free evening (sans little darlin’) and decided to take advantage to go to a high-priced restaurant which I’d gotten a gift card for. Great food, great atmosphere and great service. What more can you ask? However, the bartender was fascinating. Brigette is getting married, which in itself is lovely. However, she’s getting married to a man who owns a small vineyard out in Napa Valley, California. How cool is that? I LOVE Napa Valley, having visited it a couple of times with my friend Sally. Those visits might come to an end because Sally is now moving to Seattle. (Drat). However, if I even get an opportunity, I would love to visit Brigette at her little vineyard.

I’ve met several new clients at the law firm where I work. Yes, the type of people I meet there are usually there because they have legal problems. However, sometimes these things aren’t their fault. Its always an eclectic mix of people when you work in a law firm. One client “S”, lives in California and has a business that touts “Emerald” Aloe as a “Relief Lotion and Relief Ointment”. I have a jar of it. Great stuff. Also claims to be effective against certain forms of cancer. Something I might have to mention on my Wednesday “Cancer Warrior” blog.

I love meeting people. For the most part, they’re fascinating creatures. Even the ones who are shitty. Diversity makes the world go round.

Any people you’ve met that have left a lasting impression? Good or bad? I’d love to hear some stories.

Seems like sometimes, people vanish when you mention cancer. You feel deserted, left out in the cold, like you have some kind of incurable disease … oh wait … you do.

Frankly, it hurts. I was chatting with someone regarding this and she mentioned that when cancer struck, she did gain a number of new friends, i.e., other cancer patients, support staff, even family members who rallied around in support. But by the same token, she also lost a number of old friends. Same here. I probably mentioned in a past one particular person who stands out. T and I went to grade school together, we graduated together, we used to cruise the disco/bar scene together and we stood up in each other’s weddings. Yet, nearly thirteen years ago when I called her and told her I’d been diagnosed with breast cancer … she vanished.

I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of people in my life who love me and who have stood by my side. They ask how they can help and are more than willing to drop everything to pitch in when things got rough. My advice is to say “yes” — take them up on their offers. You might want to be superwoman, but you’re not. You’re going to get tired. You’re going to get depressed and you’re going to need help. Let ‘em.

What do you think? How have you reacted to people who fumble and fretted, or just plain vanished from your life?

And Remember …“YOU ARE A CANCER WARRIOR”

Other than working on critique revisions on my vamp WIP, I don’t have a heckavalot new going on this week. Ideas for future books are percolating, but with any writer, that’s a gimme. A query I’d sent out to Samhain Publishing was rejected, but with an open door. Portions of the ending just didn’t do it for Angie and I’m invited to resubmit if I’m willing to work with her on that. You bet I am. I personally did not find a problem with the way I ended it, but I love “Dragon Magic” and would love to see it published.

On Saturday, after our WisRWA meeting, I stopped at the local Barnes & Noble (what a surprise) and I found a book I’d been watching for called “The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance”. Jeanine Frost made mention of this several times in the past and I was really interested in checking it out. 24 short stories by some of the top paranormal authors in the business. Can it get any better? Not only do I get to read short stories by authors I love, but I also get to check out authors I’d never read before … which can be good and it can be bad. I find great new books to read — and I find great new books to read. End result there is I’ll have to shell out more money (and time) to devote to new authors. Oh, well. I can live with that.

So, technically and (writing) speaking it has been a quiet, uneventful week. Slogging away at the WIP and preparing for the next project.

Really gotta find more hours in the day. There just isn’t enough. Then again … what did I say about sleep? That its over-rated? Have a good, productive week.

Last week I mentioned going to a party at which there was a ten year survivor at my table to whom I referred to as “P”. On a side note, it was sorta funny, by the way. At our table … out of the seven seated there, five of us were cancer survivors. We called ourselves the cancer table. Original, eh? And funny how it seems like cancer people always seem to gravitate to each other. A magnetic effect, as it were.

Anyway, given the fact that I was wearing a scarf, it was obvious that I was going through chemo treatments, which, of course, opened the conversation. Now, I’m always willing to talk about cancer, my treatment and what’s going on. My little way of giving back and offering advice … whether people want it or not . However, P launched into this “you poor thing” and “how you must be suffering” and “you’re so brave”. To the point where I was becoming very uncomfortable.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve had my moments of wallowing in a Pity Party, but I try to make those few and far between. I’m not the type of person to rail against my fate. I’m of the attitude of “Shit happens. Deal with it. Move on.” (Not a bad motto, by the way. I should have that cross-stitched and framed. )

I suppose its up to each individual as to how you react to someone who wants to shower you with pity. You can wallow in this Pity Party or you can do your best to put that person at ease. Everyone reacts differently when confronted with a disease like cancer. P is a survivor, so she has first hand knowledge. Don’t know how she personally handled it during her treatment, or how the people around her handled it, but sometimes … and I guess the bottom line is … people just don’t know what to say.

What do you think? Have you had any such reactions … on either side. As a cancer patient or as someone trying to express support.

And Remember …“YOU ARE A CANCER WARRIOR”

Last week, Leigh Wyndfield blogged at MagicalMusings about writing rituals. Really got me thinkin’. Finding the right time to write is a PITA. This is such a personal preference for each writer. Some of us are morning people, some do their best work in the evenings. Then there are the vampires who work vest at night.

Most of you who have been following this blog know my preference. When I was on steroids, working in the wee hours of the morning was the best for me. Alas … no longer. Without the steroids, there’s no way I’m gonna drag my butt outta a warm bed at 1:00 in the morning. So I’ll stick with the next best thing. 4:30 in the morning. Not ideal, in my opinion, but it sure beats trying to come up with anything creative in the evening when I’m trying to contend with a dozen things at once and writing always seems to take the back seat.

There was something else Leigh said that resonated with me. Exercising before sitting down to write. Yes, we know the benefits of exercise … yadda, yadda, yadda. I’m thinkin’ more along the lines of adrenaline. Once you get that blood moving, the brain wakes up and you’re running on all cylinders. To me, that’s when creativity kicks in. This is something that can happen in the early morning, middle of the day or even during the evening. Its like getting second wind. So when the weather improves a little bit, I’m going to give that a try. Hit the gym after work and see what happens.