A Bit of Disruption While I Move

 

ROAD TRIP!

My life has taken a bit of a turn lately and is currently mostly in boxes.

I've decided to return to Alberta where I was born and raised and take my two lovely kitties - aka The Hallellujah Choir - with me. So here I am at the age of 54 getting rid of everything by my cherished possessions, quitting my job (Last day today!) and moving across the country with my cats.

Jazz and Ash aren't too sure what's going on. They know what the boxes mean but have no idea they'll be spending 4 nights in hotels and moving to a new home.

Over the past two months, I've been scurrying to find a place to live and a new car. Why the car? I've been locked out 4 times by a short in the wiring and ended up crawling in through the trunk, setting off the alarm system, and driving across town with the horn blaring. Not fun! The last time, I gave in. I called a friend whose son works for a local dealership and got a great new car!! One I feel safe and comfortable in AND has a bit more space for all the books I'm taking on my move.

Happy to say all the pieces have been falling into place. Even a great new job on the horizon that I will share once I have more information. May need to get a part time gig for a while, but that's nothing I haven't done before. I'll definitely keep writing books. Editing books. All the fun marketing stuff that goes along with being a writer!

So, the blog will be sketchy for the next couple week while I move and get settled. I'll try to keep up and let you all know how things are going!

In the meantime, I have a few more great lunches, dinners, coffees and so on with amazing friends I've made since we moved here in 2005. Orangeville is definitely a fabulous place and I leave knowing that I will come back to visit - and do a book launch for the fantasy novel I'm writing with my dear friend, Gary!!

One thing I have come to enjoy is meeting and spending time with other fantastic writers and I look forward to meeting many more. I've been very blessed during my time here even if it didn't feel that way at the time. Sometimes it takes leaving somewhere to find out how many really good friends and experiencies you have had. 

For today, I'm off to work for my last day at Theatre Orangeville - which has been a huge learning experience!! Then home to do more packing, scanning, and so on. Also a little daydreaming about my new place and where I'll set up my office/writing nook.

Have a fantastic day! Much more to come!!

Diane (and the Hallelujah Choir!)

 

It's been a bit of a crazy weekend. We took Thing 1, aka our oldest son, off to University.

 

Up until Friday, I was scurrying around getting things packed, making sure he has what he needed, working, and writing. Then came the trip home yesterday. Long and quiet. Exhaustion had taken over. In need of a distraction, I read all the way home, Rachel Brimble's A Man Like Him. (Review to come soon!)

 

Today I'm cleaning and getting the other kids ready for school. Trying to not be a smothering mom to my 18 year old who just wants to be left alone to check out his new world. At least he has a roommate who is also athletic and has a great sense of humour. They should get along well! Like every mom, I just want to know he's eating well and happy.

 

Thing 2 brought along the manuscript of Four Possessions to read on the road trip. According to him, it's one of the best he's ever read and I'd better get it edited and printed soon. Love having such encouraging fans. At least with everyone back to school soon, I will have the time to sit and finish edits and all the accessories I have to send to my agent.

 

Sorry, a bit of rambling today. Just trying to get my head and everything else in order. A bit of clean up before I get down to work tomorrow. Speaking of which, time to change loads of laundry. The once constant in life.

 

Happy Labour Day weekend!

 

Spring Fever

Spring fever hit me hard this year. Not that we've had an awful winter by any means. I've only had to shovel snow a handful of times (so far), but the warmth of the sun, the melting snow, and company coming has forced me to do things I normally put off until April or May. Like washing walls. Climbing walls. That sort of thing.

I even put a summer painting in the library and look forward to bringing my mom to see it on public display over the next couple of days. I'll make sure to post a picture!

March Break starts this week. The kids will be home, we'll be doing some day trips and not doing so much writing or editing. That's what I've been doing this week. Sending out submissions, getting more rejections for my box, and editing. Keep on Swimming. Dory from Finding Nemo is my idol.

I was abducted by a girlfriend this morning. I was going out to take a long walk. She picked me up and we took a long drive instead. Huge cup of coffee, a road trip, and thou. It was much needed for both of us. I loved every second of it. Okay, so the blog for my writing group was later getting online. And I wasn't exactly prepared for a daytrip, but isn't that what life is about?

Sometimes you just have to be a little flexible and go in whatever direction the wind takes you. That's what I'm learning lately. Life is too short. Splash in the puddles. Go camping and not worry about showering until your stench makes the flowers droop. (Okay, that only happened once. Swimming helps.)

Right now I am surrounded by people with cancer. They have all lived long, rich lives.
I am taking a class about Life Story writing and have a couple of questions: When you look back on your life, will you be writing about how successful you were in business or in life? How will your loved ones remember you?