How Am I Financing My 12+ Adventures????

When my father died, he told us kids there would be no money left for us.  Mom would be taken care of but there would be no inheritance for us.  And he wasn't kidding.....

But there was one funny thing we all knew.....Dad had a habit of hiding money around the house.  There was the stash in the bottom of the grandfather clock and in the fake ceiling in the den and various other spots.  After Dad was gone nothing left the house without being fully inspected......just in case.......

When Mom left us there was a small amount of money divided between the 4 kids.  Each one of us was given a check.  I need to stress this was not a huge some of money but might help with a bill or two.  I brought my check home and put it in the bank.  I decided I would not use it for anything practical.  I wanted to use it on something special, something memorable.  It has been in my bank account for 2 years.  Waiting to be used.  I thought about buying a special piece of jewelry.  I thought about using it for a trip.  And yes occasionally......I thought about using it for something practical........like painting the inside of the house.  I fought all those temptations.......and now I know why.......

Mom's final monetary gift to me is going to be used to pay for what it can of my 12 things to do list.

I used the first money $30 last week to pay for my writing class as the SC Book Festival.   The class was about writing short stories.  I learned a lot and it was great to sit in a room of writers.  A lady sat next to me and said "are you a writer too?"  Without missing a beat I said  "yes I am".  Our first assignment was to write a short story.......in 6 words.  It was an interesting challenge.  Then she asked someone to share theirs......my hand shot up in the air.  Most of you know I do not like to draw attention to myself so this was way out of character for me.  But I felt so comfortable in the room of writers.....not out of my comfort zone at all.
Later that week-end, I attended a class about self-publishing and another on writing a novel a thought at a time.  I enjoyed them all!!! Next year, I will definitely attend more sessions.  My goal is to one day be the person sitting on the dais leading a discussion about the writing process and how I became an author.

Well, I have finally found the purpose for the money.......Mom is helping me with Chapter 3 of my life.  The money may not cover all of the items on my list but it will definitely cover quite a few......the 3rd hole in my ears......the tattoo (yes Amy I am still getting the tattoo).......renting the car of my dreams for a weekend......and maybe just maybe enough money to self publish a book through Amazon.  The book is going to be about the 12+ things I am doing for the first time.......I started writing it tonight.  Oh and I used Dragon Speak to begin the book.......for those of you who don't know what that is......I can talk into a microphone and my words come out on a Microsoft word doc.  How cool is that!!!

I have felt Mom more with me so much more since I made the decision on how to use the money.  So there will be nothing practical.......except maybe an outfit for my book tour...LOL.  Hey I have to dream big don't I???

Mom's final gift to me was about  dreams, changing my life, new adventures and Chapter 3............

THANK YOU MOM.......you always did know what was best for your children........I know you will be there each step of the way as I continue to grow and explore....not afraid to try new things anymore........OK except skydiving and a few other things.....

See you all next week.......

What Can You Say About Rice????

Rice.....plain, white or brown and starchy......long grain, 90 second kind or fried rice.....

One of my favorite lines ever on I Love Lucy is when Ricky asks Fred, "What do you know about rice?"  Fred responds without missing a beat " The only thing I know about it is that it was thrown at me on one of the darkest days of my life!!"  LMAO!!!! I love that line....

Last night, I made a pot of plain white rice in preparation for making some fried rice today to go with the ribs we are having for Mother's Day dinner.  Thank you Publix for putting ribs on sale this week end!! Jenn really has the rib recipe down pat and I do a pretty good rendition of Mom's fried rice.  Her cole slaw is still a work in progress but I am getting closer.  Last time my brother George was here he said if I just cut the cabbage a little thinner I might just have it right.

Oh right.......back to the rice .....

Mom showed me the easiest way to make white rice years ago.  I have never burned it and it has always come out right with no hard pieces in the middle.

Ready for this amazing recipe????

Put the rice in a pot and smooth it out with your hand.  Now measure how much rice is in the pot by putting you thumb in the rice down to the bottom of the pot.  Put the same amount of water in the pot as rice by holding your thumb on top of the rice and adding the water until it equals the rice measurement.  Put a lid on the pot and put it on the stove.  In no time voila......great rice.

Mom could do that....teach me things in a way I would remember!!

Mom could make Christmas Angels from a paper towel tube, hanger, an egg shell and some old material soaked in wall paper paste and sprayed gold.

Mom would show up at my house knowing I would have pants for her to hem.  She was not thrilled with my version of the scotch tape hem...LOL.  I never mastered the sewing part.....yes, I can sew a button on but I would never start cutting pants off at the bottom and attempt to make a new hem.....she did it without even blinking an eye.  I can still see her sitting at my dining room table on her last visit.  Jenn standing on a chair and Mom with a bunch of pins sticking out of her mouth while she measured Jenn's pants.  Sorry Mom I failed heming 101......

But the rice ......I've got that down.......and a million other things I do everyday without even thinking.......all that she taught me......with love and patience......

Well I have to go now.......the dryer buzzer is going off........as Mom said to me a million times "Donna, if you would just take the clothes out of the dryer when the buzzer goes off you would not have to iron so much."  You were right Mom.......as usual!!!!

Happy Mother's Day Mom and to all the Mom's who take the time to teach us all those little things.....

See you next week........

So What Have I Done About My 12 Things List? Item #1 check!!

OK I have started on my 12 new things to do list.....I am now thinking that it might turn out to be more than 12 new things.

I am even thinking of writing a book about all of my new adventures!!!

My mind keeps coming up with more and more ideas of things to do......

First item....... sign up for a Master Class (that's what they call it) at the SC Book Fair.  Check!!

I am going to a session on writing short stories a week from Friday.  I had to pay for that one.  Saturday and Sunday I am going to a session each day.  One is about getting published and the other about writing a novel a thought at a time.

This book fair is very exciting for a few reasons:

1.  I am going ALONE!!!! You know that is something I normally don't do.

2.  I will be with a lot of other people who love to write,

3.  This is just about me and my passion to write.

4.  I am sure I will learn somethings that will help me in my dream of  being published.

What's next.......well let's just say one had to do with writing an email to a state Senator and another had to do with writing to a TV host.  If they respond I will be sure to let you know......if they don't oh well at least I tried.....what do I have to lose???

I have some other friends who have started talking about their list of things they would like to do and that excites me too!!!!

This turning into more of an adventure than I anticipated and at the end of the 18 months I will have some great memories .......and a tattoo to show for it!!!!

Stay tuned......you never know what might be next on my list!!!!

See you next week......