Web Site Woes (or Desperate Measures for Desperate Times)

So you all know by now that the new book is out.  A Mystery in the Mailbox is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and on Kindle.  The point of writing the book was to share with the general public a project I’ve been working on for over 20 years and to inspire others to do the same thing I’ve been doing. 

The fact is anyone can do it from beginning to end.  I tell them exactly how I did it.  I tell them where to find what they need, what supplies to obtain, and every single thing I did.  But I admit, I had years to develop this system.  Some people won’t have the patience to build their own database or create their own record-keeping templates.  So I decided to make my database and templates available for download for a small fee. 

All I needed to do was put a shopping cart on my web site and an automatic download would be available to all who wanted it. 

I have now spent two weeks struggling with the e-commerce portion of my web server in an attempt to make everything work.  So far, all I’ve really accomplished is testing the limits of my frustration before a total nuclear implosion!

In an effort to make the database available to those who might want it before the “Easy shopping cart and instant download” actually work, I posted instructions on my web site for mailing a check and receiving the database by e-mail.  I suppose I should have thought of that sooner, especially for those who despise using credit cards, but better late than never!

Don't worry.  Once I get the darned shopping cart thing working, I’ll post a web site update.

"A Mystery in the Mailbox" now available!

Many years, many volunteer copy editors, one book editor, one agent, and lots of work have finally culminated in the latest offering, A Mystery in the Mailbox.  It's a new year, and I was determined to start it by finally putting out this book for reader consumption.  Be forewarned, this is not your typical non-fiction book.  It's a great story that's part autobiography, part how-to, and a huge dose of inspiration.  I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy the read!  

A Mystery in the Mailbox is now available at Amazon.com.

Ringing in the New Year Right?

This time last year, I was sitting in the living room, sipping a glass of wine after un‑decorating the tree.  I was convinced that I wanted to start the New Year fresh.  Perhaps starting with fewer chores to accomplish would set the tone for a really good year.  That plan didn’t quite work out as I would have liked.  2013 turned out to be a year of personal turmoil.  I can take a hint.  My Christmas tree is still fully loaded as I take my first halting steps into 2014, and I have populated my to-do list with all the items I was unable to cross off in 2013.

 

The first thing on my list is completion of a book that has been languishing in my unfinished stack since my agent passed away suddenly in 2010.  That task will be removed from the list in short order, since the manuscript and the cover art have been submitted for review, and the finished book will most likely be for sale by mid-January.  I hope that starting the year off with publication will set the tone for 2014.  One of these years I will pick the right beginning that will herald the coming of a very good year.

What are you doing to start off 2014 on a positive note?

Christmas 2013...A Few Thoughts

Let me start by saying that in a “Baaa Humbug” moment, I decided not to put up the Christmas tree this year.  No grandkids would be in Christmas attendance; therefore, what was the point?  I had made up my mind, in no uncertain terms.  Then I came home one day and the tree was sitting, bare of ornamentation, in the living room.  Not wanting to make an issue of it, I dutifully hung all the ornaments.  It was a very cold and snowy Saturday afternoon; weather not fit for man or beast, so I had no excuse to leave the house and avoid what seemed a grudging chore.

My Scrooge-i-ness began to wane the first time I lit the tree at night, when all the other lights were out.  Sitting in the quiet house, in the dark, with the lit Christmas tree as the only illumination always seems to trip some switch inside my head, or perhaps inside my heart.  There is something magical about it.  And it worked its magic on me.  My spirits lifted and I began to prepare for Christmas in earnest.

Tonight, after all our guests had gone, after all the clean-up was done, and after Jim had gone up to bed, I turned out all the lights and sat in the quiet of the living room with only the Christmas tree for light.  I reflected on the past year, and all the things good, bad, happy, or sad that had occurred, and I felt thankful.  Perhaps I had been subconsciously worried that our family traditions would lose their meaning to everyone in Mom’s absence.  But our gathering was happy, hopeful, and life affirming.  Surrounded by family, talking, eating, laughing, and having a good time in each other’s company, I began to wonder how many more times we will be privileged and able to repeat this tradition.  Although I am happy to be done with the planning, and the baking, and the cooking, and the cleaning, I am also happy that I was able to do it.

I am fairly certain that every night, until the tree comes down, I will repeat my ritual of sitting in the dark and reflecting on its light and beauty.  And I’m pretty sure there will be no “Baaa Humbug” moment next year.  

Working my way toward a “no stress” holiday…

Three days and counting!  The tree is up and decorated.  All the shopping is done and the presents are wrapped.  All the cookies are baked, as is my mother’s sour cream coffee cake.  I have everything I need for the table.  I have a menu planned for Christmas dinner.  I have my assignments for Christmas Eve.  I have task lists for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  And all has been accomplished with no hyperventilation, no angst, and no arguments.  I’m not quite sure to what I should attribute this significant change from my norm.

I would like to think that my determination to be calm and laid back is paying off.  More likely the lack of caffeine and aspartame in my system could be reason for this aberration in my behavior.  I’m no longer experiencing caffeine withdrawal symptoms.  My sleep patterns are definitely different.  Then again, I’ve only been Diet Mountain Dew free for three weeks, so I think the improvements will continue for a while, then level out and become a new normal.

 

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, a very Happy New Year, and a substantial reduction in stress and angst!  

Thanksgiving 2013, a Holiday Evolves...

When I was young, Thanksgiving was all about the food.  I have fleeting memories of some holiday dinners at my grandmother’s, but most of my holiday food memories were at our house.  My mother made a huge turkey, or at least it looked huge to my young eyes, and we had stuffing, Mom’s special rolls, cranberry sauce and other lovely things we didn’t have on normal days.  We would sit down and eat, and it was always phenomenal. 

When I was in college, Thanksgiving was all about the fun.  I remember heading to my sister’s house in NJ for Thanksgiving one year.  There were six college kids driving East with all our suitcases in a Pinto with no snow tires.  We got stuck in a blizzard in the Poconos.  Traffic was at an absolute standstill.  Parents actually let kids out of the cars to make snow angels on the side of the road.  How crazy that seems now in retrospect. We spent Thanksgiving night sitting in a cold car.  We finally got to an exit on Friday, and spend that night sitting on maps on a gas station floor.  I missed the holiday completely and arrived in Red Bank on Saturday.  My brother-in-law drove down to fetch me, I spent the night at their house, then flew back to Columbus.  At the time I thought it was a great adventure.  Now I think it was just nuts and dangerous. 

After I got married, Thanksgiving was about doing my part for family Thanksgiving dinners.  I loved it.  We would go to Mom’s for the event, but I would cook the turkey and stuffing at home in a big electric roaster, and we would take the cooked bird with us.  Mom would concentrate on all the fixings, the rolls, the pies, the green bean casseroles, etc.  I would set up shop with my roaster and make gravy.  My father’s typical comment was, “the turkey is a little dry.”  I’m not quite sure why he said that every year, but I don’t remember him saying that to Mom when she made the bird.  Perhaps it was to make her feel that no one else could cook like she did.  And no one could.  We had some pretty severe winters back then.  One time, the National Guard had come out with road graders to clear the highways, and we drove slowly down State Route 528, marveling at the walls of piled snow to either side, at least 8-10 feet high.  We managed to get there and the feast went on.

After Mom and Dad sold the big house, Thanksgiving was about gathering together, and we moved it around a bit.  We had some years when my brother and his wife hosted, some when my sister (who had moved back to the area briefly) hosted.  If everyone made other plans, we sometimes had Thanksgiving with Jim’s side of the family.  But in all scenarios, I was the one certainty, making and bringing the turkey and stuffing.

After we built the new house, holidays came to us, and Thanksgiving became more about being grateful.  I no longer had to haul the bird across the county (or counties), even though I had most of the additional preparations to manage:  seating logistics, rolls, casseroles, pies, libations, etc.  At least my oven was free for other baking (love that electric roaster). 

This year will be different.  My daughter and her family will be the only ones joining us for dinner.  My son will not be making the trip from NJ this year with his crew.  My brother and his wife and son will be staying home by choice, but may stop by for pie later on.  My other brother and my sister are far away celebrating in their own way.  Somehow I think I will be missing Mom telling me I don’t chop my onions right and Dad complaining that the turkey is a little dry.  But they are celebrating Thanksgiving together for the first time since 1997, and I am thankful for that and happy for them in a wistful sort of way. 

And now it’s time to head downstairs.  There are pies to bake, a turkey to stuff, a casserole to experiment with, and other things that need doing.  When the eight of us sit down, I will offer up my prayer of thanks that we are lucky enough to gather and do this one more year, because there are so many who don’t have that opportunity and don’t know the joy of celebrating in a warm house with good food surrounded by family.  When dinner is said and done, we’ll clean it all up and prepare for our first Black Friday Potluck.  For all the angst and prep, I am grateful for that as well.  Having all the family on my husband’s side gather for a joyous occasion is a thing of beauty, even if it is at my house!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

..of Cabbages and Kings...

Cabbage is cooked and ready.  Rice is cooked and ready.  Tomorrow's task is to mix up the filling, make the actual cabbage rolls and get them cooked, cooled and into the freezer.  Wednesday's tasks are stuffing and pies.  Thursday's tasks include the turkey, a butternut squash casserole, mashed potatoes, salad, and pies.  Friday's menu is potluck.  I will provide the cabbage rolls, salad, mashed potatoes, pies, and all the leftovers in my fridge and those brought by the fellow diners.  I am still struggling with the logistics of 30 for sit down. Now, all that's missing is someone else to clean up the mess...