From Florida to Freezing

Yes, we are home.

We made it home on Monday.

When we stepped on to the plane in Ft. Myers, Florida, it was in the mid-80's for a temperature with mostly sunny skies. Three hours later, we stepped off the plane in Minneapolis and it was cloudy, windy and 46 degrees.

I'm still trying to warm up.

QH, in true Eskimo fashion, walked off the plane in his shorts and said, "I'm home!"

I've been trying to get my bearings since we got home, and trying to keep my spirits up because I'm feeling the drop in Vitamin D I was getting daily in the Sunshine State. In a way I am glad to be home, but it's hard to get back in the groove when you think of how long it took you to get on vacation and how fast it went by.

Today, I received a little insight into how to take things now that I'm home. It was a small gift from my fellow writing friend, the fabulous Sandy Lender, in her blog post today on her blog Today the Dragon Wins. Go to her site and check it out: www.todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com. She's had plenty in her life the last few years that has given her the wisdom and insight on how to take things when life piles on the issues and the problems and the obstacles.

Check the comments and leave one for her if you like. (Also, if you haven't read "Choices Meant for Gods" (go to her publisher's site for a great deal) or her chapbook, "The Choices We Made", and both are available at Amazon.com).

I come away with the knowledge that sometimes you just have to take things "one day at a time" as most of my family and friends who have gone through the 12 step programs recite to keep them from falling off track. I forget I'm not Wonder Woman with super powers and that in order to get more done, I need to finish one thing before I move on to the next. I have to check off the things accomplished on my never ending "To Do List" and try not to overwhelm myself. And try to keep the list manageable.

I had 13 days of wondering what we were going to do that day, with no plan or agenda, and it was wonderful.

True, we need to work and make a living, and be responsible and all that, but I'm not going to let my "To Do List" run my life to the point of hyperventilating if I don't get something done. And once it warms up here in the "land of ice and snow", I'm going to do more to have more fun and enjoy the weather and my friends and family.

In the meantime, I'm looking for my socks. My feet are cold.

I Started A Writing Contest

Greetings from Florida!

I'm killing some time out here on the lanai, I'm not sure if I spelled that correctly, using a spare laptop that my friend Gayle has loaned me for the duration of our trip. We've been discussing all sorts of things, and marketing, and catching up on everything.

I got a wild notion to start a writing contest and posted the information on my blog crawfordwritingservices.blogspot.com. It's open to ages 16 to 19 and the entry fee is only $10. The Grand Prize is $500 cash! If you or anyone you know is interested, please click on over and check it out. I will also be posting the information here in another post.

In the meantime, I'm gettting the start of a good tan, the weather has been phenomenal, and we both are resting and relaxing and having a good time. I'll write more later, I'm meeting my good friend and fellow writer, Sandy Lender for lunch. I haven't seen her in a couple of years, so it will be good to give her a good Minnesota hug!

Hope you all have a good day!

Florida 2009: Tick, Tock

Yes, we are leaving in a few hours for sunny southwest Florida. I kept looking at the clock at work tonight which is a frustrating activity on the night before you go on a long vacation. I don't recommend it.

But it was more than the clock that was frustrating me. All day I was driving myself crazy trying to get everything done, as usual, and accomplishing zilch. Poor QH was home cleaning, doing laundry and packing and I felt like such a shit for leaving him home alone to do all that. I hate it when I do that. I want to rest and relax and be in a good mood when I go on vacation, not pissed off and frustrated. GRRRR.

I know, I should be more organized, and not try to leave everything to the last minute, but some things you have to. It's just that time moves way too fast when you are busy doing other stuff, and when you're not, you swear that damn thing is going backwards!

I have a few projects in the works, that will bring in some extra money and kick start my writing business (yes, I still have a writing business!). I need to take a breath, because since the first of the year, it's been one thing after another after another. Some good, some bad, and some fabulous. Ha! You thought I was going to say something else, didn't you?

It's been interesting, to say the least, but I need a little time watching the Gulf of Mexico, and the sun setting by the Naples Pier, and to hold QH's hand as we walk along the beach. We both need this so terribly bad, and I'm glad we decided that we would still go in spite of everything else going on. If you are under a lot of stress, working your ass off trying to make it paycheck to paycheck, or just having a hard time finding the fun in life anymore, then you need to take a break.

Everyone needs to run away from home once in a while. If you can't afford to go right now, then start a vacation fund. When you get enough, then plan on where you want to go. Get brochures, look on the Internet, and most of all DECIDE TO GO, NO MATTER WHAT!

Even if you just go to the lake with the kids, go play in the sand. It washes off, and you'll feel much better.