November 10, 2016

4:57 p.m.

Fifty-five years ago today, the world was blessed with the birth of this lady right here: My sister! Happy Birthday, Melanie!!

A few years ago, Mel came to visit. We went to see Alice Cooper and had a great time. Then we went up to Blackhawk, CO so we could lose some money, and we had a great time again.

I never get to spend enough time with this great gal. I'm looking forward to spending some time with her later this month.
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I am getting excited because my brother and my father are coming next week. Time to repair the roof--YAY! The weather has so far been cooperative, so I am just hoping and praying that it holds out until the work is done.

And then--guess what? I am going to go home with them for an extended visit. It's so important to me to be able to spend time with my parents and family.

My daughter and her family are staying with me right now, and this visit away will make a little more room in my house for them. I'm so glad they are here. Starting over is hard, but they are making a good start. Getting the grandkids into new schools has been hard, though, especially the High School student. Changing schools is rough.

While I'm in Wyoming, hopefully I will manage to finish my book. I hope it's done before Christmas and then I'll start the editing process. For me, that's always the hardest part. It will be good to do it there--it's nice and quiet at my parents' house.

Oh boy, now I am laughing at myself--I don't necessarily work well in quiet. Sometimes it seems to me that I get more work done when the baby is running around like a whirling dirvish, giggling and screaming, than I do when everyone is asleep. A room full of people shouting at the video game they're playing is sometimes my best background noise. I've written a lot lately.

I am wierd.

But really, editing is a different story. Quiet should be good for that. Editing is hard; you find all your silly mistakes, you decide your scenes suck, you discover that your facts don't add up. Ugh! I never look forward to that part of the writing process. But it has to be done.
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6:00 p.m.

There's a "Jane the Virgin" marathon going on at my house right now. This show is so cute. I introduced it to my granddaughter so she'd have a positive role model in actress Gina Rodriguez.

When I was a kid, I had favorite actors, writers, and musicians that I looked to; it's just a part of growing up, I think. I still have favorites, as I'm sure you all do. Some of them are the same favorites I had as a kid growing up--for example, I will never NOT love Alice Cooper. I love him more than ever, but not for all the same reasons I loved him as a kid. I didn't know, as a kid, that he was such a good golfer, or that he was a good Christian. I didn't know he'd end up being a great husband and father. These are things I admire him for now, in addition to loving the music. As a kid I just knew that he kind of freaked my mother out, and that was a cool thing.

I think kids still choose their favorites based on the "Mom's creeped out" factor, but some of these so called "role models" are so inappropriate that I have felt the need to try to influence my kids and grandkids to choose some role models that are actually good. That's why I encouraged my daughters and granddaughters to watch "Jane the Virgin" and in the process get to know a good role model in the actress who portrays her.

Gina Rodriguez is college educated and an advocate for education. She has been honest with her fans regarding her health issues and weight issues. She is a Latina who has brought attention to the Hispanic community's contributions to the entertainment industry. My girls have always needed to know that it is not necessary to be a blue-eyed blond to succeed. My granddaughters also need to know that it is not necessary to dress inappropriately or swear like a sailor in order to be noticed. I admire Gina Rodriguez for giving them someone who really is appropriate to look up to.

And the show is so cute. So fun. So silly. We all enjoy it. We also enjoy the actresses who portray Jane's mother and grandmother. We think the baby is adorable. And on the super-plus side--there are some nice looking men! It's a win-win.

My plug for "Jane the Virgin": Now in its third season. Seasons one and two available on Netflix. Watch it on the CW. Enjoy!
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It's November 10th. I have still not turned the heater on! Wow!!

I'm cold. But not freezing. So, robe and blankets. No one else seems to be cold so far this season, so I can be tough, right?

(Said the wimp)
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9:25 p.m.

Oh, what fun! The kids are watching "Shrek". It's been ages since I saw this movie; it's still fun. I've been writing all evening, and now I think I'm going to take a break and watch with the kiddos.

Have a good night!