A Wonderful Monday

Monday Already?  I'm sure most of us were thinking that this morning when our alarm clocks buzzed.  I was all snuggly between my sheets this morning when my clock radio began humming between stations.  The cooler nights here in the desert make nights nice to sleep.  Open the windows in the bedroom, and allow the cool night air to filter in.

Actually work wise, today is actually my Tuesday, since I worked yesterday.  I lay in bed after shutting off the radio and enjoyed the cool satin sheets against my body.  Knowing I had to get my butt in gear, I arose, checked- e-mail and facebook, the sales of my books overnight and headed to the shower. 

It was a beautiful morning here on the Western Slope of Colorado and I decided to walk to work today.  Brett and I have been dropping our weight, eating healthy and exercising, what a better way to start the day than by walking the mile to work on a beautiful morning.  The birds were chirping, butterflies drifing to and fro, a big dog behind his fence decided I was too close to his territory and began barking as I walked by. 

Today I arrived at work too quickly, it's beautiful days like today I wish I lived further from work so I could continue enjoying my walk.  Arrived to work energized and ready for my "Tuesday". 

I hope everyone is enjoying their day. 
No matter where your day leads you, do your best to enjoy it, because today will be gone and hopefully we will all awake tomorrow to enjoy another day.

Where did your Saturday lead you?

Brett and I had a wonderful day today.  We visited Cedaredge, Colorado and the Pioneer Museum.  We love living here on the Western Slope of the state.

Upon arriving home, their was a message on the machine in our office.  The caller was Brett's oldest son, asking his father to return the call.

It was the call we knew would be coming; Brett's ex-wife, his son's mother passed away this afternoon.   She actually drank herself to death at the young age of 49. 

She was a woman who has been a train wreck in our lives since the day we married, and in Brett's life for many years prior to that.  I do not like speaking badly of the dead, so I won't.  I only pray that she is at peace now, the peace she could not find here on earth.

Many mixed feelings have risen in me since hearing the news.  I'm attempting to understand them, yet I'm perplexed.  I am questioning my own mortality, although I feel that is normal when someone younger than yourself dies, and from a terrible disease- alcoholism.  

  We are all brought into this world to walk our own paths and we should not judge other's paths. I feel that everyone enters your life for a reason; they will teach you, or you will teach them.  I have learned a lot after meeting my husbands ex-wife, I don't know if she could say the same. 

Where ever your day leads you, enjoy, give someone a hug, and be thankful you saw the sun rise today.

 

Summer, Gardens and New Childrens Book

Summer is officially here, and the days will begin getting shorter. 

My garden is growing and my husband and I have enjoyed a couple of zucchini.
Speaking of gardens, I have completed a children's short story book called:

Gramiah's Special Salsa

It is a story based on The Golden Book- The Little Red Hen.

Gramiah is a brown squirrel and her friends include a ladybug, honey bee, praying mantis and a snail.
 
It will be available beginning Monday June 24th, in both paperback or on kindle.

www.donnalively.com

www.shop.donnalively.com



 

Excerpt from my December 2013 Book Release of Hunt Club Corpse

Not all monsters are ugly.  Every murder has a victim—every victim has a story, this is my story.

            My apartment complex was two up two down.  I was in 2B. I never liked my neighbors, but the rent was cheap.

            Saturday, August 20^th. 2012, 1:30 p.m.  It was hot in the city, hot and so humid the air was not only sticky but almost dripping.  It rained every evening for a week, and everything is molding, including the clothes you’re wearing, typical for August in Cleveland.

            Uniform division got the first call.   A citizen reported a bad smell penetrating from the apartment above her.

            They had no trouble finding the apartment in charming Hunt Club Village.  The officers were met outside the secured complex unit by a thin, anorexic looking, lady with stringy long red, unkempt hair, wearing bright pink lipstick, a matching rose-hued tube top and Daisy Duke Shorts.

            “Are you the one who called?” Officer Brown asked the woman.

            “Yeah,” she stated taking her scarlet color flip flop to stomp out the cigarette she flicked onto the concrete, I’m Jane.

            Finally, someone is going to find me.  I should not have died this way, I yell, yet no one hears me.  

            Officer Brown and his partner Officer Tablet followed the red haired gaunt woman as she unlocked the main door which led to the four apartments.  Once inside, Jane pointed up the stairs.  As Brown and Tablet ascend the five stairs, they are immediately met with what they know as the death scent.

            Brown slipped on gloves and tried the door to my apartment.  It’s unlocked.  He slowly opened the door and is nauseated by a stomach-turning odor.  Holding their noses, Brown and Tablet walk through the entrance way being careful to walk around all the blood that was first present in the living room.  They continued down the hallway to my bedroom, and this is where they find what is left of my earthly body.

            Immediately Brown grabbed his radio and called the Major Crime Scene Unit for photographs, fingerprinting and evidence to be collected.

           

Summer has Arrived

Summer heat has arrived here in Palisade, Colorado. Although summer is my favorite season, the Multiple Sclerosis I have been afflicted with for twenty-seven years does not like summer heat.  How do I beat the heat and it's adverse effects to my body?
Swimming is not only helpful to keep me cool, but it's also great exercise.  I do my best to visit our local outside pool and keep cool.
I also am sure I work in my garden in the early mornings while it's still cool.
I wear my cooling vest which resembles a fisherman's vest. 
Hydration is very important, so I drink lots of cool water throughout the day. 
Sit in the shade, stay out of direct sun, and eat frozen fruit bars.

A couple months ago, my husband and I installed air conditioning in our home.  I find myself on my days off of work, cooling off in the house in between either working in the garden, enjoying the nice summertime sun, and writing on two new books I am currently working on.

In my upcoming book Reality, you will travel the past twenty-seven years in my life with Multiple Sclerosis and how I deal with this debilitating disease on a daily basis.  I am aiming at releasing the book in September, but if the heat remains too hot outside, I will be inside working diligently at finishing the book for an earlier release date.

I also have another book being released in December 2013.  This is a murder mystery and the working title is Hunt Club Corpse.

Where ever your Friday June 14th takes you, stay cool, be safe and smile!