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Archive for April, 2011

Friday Favorites: Tornados and floods, oh my!

29 Apr

Guest blogger: Loralee Anderson, a character from MURDER ON MUSIC ROW

Hey y’all,

Nashville is busy getting ready for tomorrow’s Country Music Marathon. Of course Nan’s gonna run in it, but she’s only doing the ½ marathon this year. Emma’s planning to run/walk in the half too. Me?  I’m gonna hand out bottles of water. One year I got to direct the runners at one of their turns, but there were some complaints when I talked to this guy—just for a minute—and some of the runners missed the turn. Water duty’s okay by me. I don’t have to get up near as early.

I sure hope it’s less eventful than last year. It all started fine and dandy, but then came the rain. They’ve done the marathon in rain before, but last year the streets were starting to flood. Then there was thunder and lightning like you ain’t never seen. The race officials decided it you weren’t to a certain spot by a certain time, you had to run the half even if signed up for the full. I tell you it was crazy as a hornet’s nest down there. Less than a 1000 runners finished the full, but almost 25,000 finished the half.

People were bitching and moaning ’bout it all over town. But by the end of the day when it was still raining and more and more streets were closed even to cars ‘cause of the rain, some of the bitching stopped. ‘Course, as you know, that turned into what’s now being called “The Great Flood” or the “1000 year flood” but at the time everbody just thought it was a little rain. Turned out to be more rain on the first two days of May than we’d got all year—over 20”—and was one of the worst natural disasters ever.

We’re still rebuilding from that flood. Opry Mills Mall, the high-end designer mall next door to the Opryland Hotel was under water. It looked like the top half of a building sitting in the middle of a lake. They’s just now starting to rebuild it. There was talk about tearing it down, but I don’t think that’d sit well with the locals ‘cause they tore down Opryland Theme Park to build it in the first place. They’re expected to keep it open. There’s people who still ain’t back in their houses yet from that flood.  Lots of businesses went out of business. It was nuts, but somehow Nashville survived stronger than ever.

So day before yesterday we started getting more rain. Rivers were flooding. The tornado sirens were going off and I swear it was green as a leprerchan outside. That’s how you know things are ripe for a tornado. I’m not scared of a little bad weather—usually—but they were making a big deal about it on TV and even I got spooked. I went over to Emma’s ‘cause she’s got a basement. Nan kept working right through it though she did say she and a couple of her clients went under her house to the crawl space a time or two. I wish I could’ve seen that. I told her she missed an opportunity to charge extra for a mud bath but she didn’t think it was funny.

Emma’s got a good-sized basement with a TV and her girls have a playroom down there. While they watched DVD’s and played, me and Emma stayed glued to the television. They’d preempted all the shows—even Oprah—and were just doing weather. Turns out it was a good decision to hole up in the basement like that. Today’s newspaper says these were the most devastating storms in over 40 years with almost 300 people in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi getting killed. Alabama got hit hardest, but it was bad all over. The paper says some of the tornados (there was a bunch of them) were on the ground for twenty or thirty miles and had speeds up to 200 mph. Some weather expert in Texas said they started in Mississippi and lasted over 300 miles, which is a long ways even for what they call these super cells.

We all managed to get out safe and there weren’t no damage to any of our houses, thank the good Lord. Between these tornados and the flood last year, I think I’m gonna take my vacation the end of April and first of May next year.

The forecast looks good for tomorrow’s Country Music Marathon and they’re already starting to close down streets. If you’re in the area come on out and cheer the runners on—it’s lots of fun. I’m gonna go down to the Red Cross now and donate some blood. When I can’t figure out what else to do and I feel helpless, that’s what I usually end up doing. You can join me there too if you want.

‘Til it’s my turn to blog again, I’ll say bye. Stay safe out there and if you see a tornado for God’s sake take cover and if you’re driving get in a ditch. Those things don’t play around.

 

~Loralee

 

 
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Posted in BLOG POSTS, Friday Favorites, Loralee, Murder on Music Row, Writing

 

Wildcard Wednesday: Rachelle Gardner on Publishing

27 Apr

Hi everybody,

Well, you know how I troll blogs, especially those of literary agents, editors, and other writers. I often find posts I’d like to share with you (and have reposted a few) but unless I have an online relationship with the author, I usually hesitate to ask permission. What? Me, Shy? Well, maybe just a little. Anyway, I recently found a post that resonated with me. It hit on two of the top three industries in Nashville, so I threw caution to the wind and zipped off an e-mail asking if I could repost Should Publishing Be Compared to the Music Industry? The author was gracious and said yes, so without further ado, I present a recent post from the popular blog On Life as a Literary Agent written by Rachelle Gardner of WordServe Literary.

Should Publishing Be Compared to the Music Industry?

(Maybe Not)

Continuing on the theme of how publishing is evolving, you probably know that many people are comparing our current situation to the music industry’s revolutionary changes over the last dozen years. If we’re smart, the wisdom goes, we’ll carefully study how things have gone in that medium and see what we can learn from it. I’ve read many, many articles that astutely point to things that have worked and things that didn’t for the big record labels; analysis of mistakes that were made; and how that industry has adapted to changing technology which has in turn changed consumers’ buying patterns. 

There is much that can be learned and applied to the book business, but I’ve been concerned lately that some people seem to be taking the analogy too far. There are too many ways that books are not like music, and if we slavishly try to incorporate the lessons the music biz has learned, we are going to end up in big, big trouble. Many of the strategies that are now working in music won’t work in books—we need to creatively think up our own solutions!

Here are a few of my thoughts:

The music business has always been driven by live events.
For thousands of years before recording even existed, music was performed and enjoyed live. It makes sense that many of the answers for the music industry lie in the better exploitation of live music; not so in books. The book business has never been driven by live events, and I doubt it ever could be.

Listening to music has always been equal parts social and personal.
Whether we’re listening on the radio, on recordings, or at a live event, we have always enjoyed sharing music with others equally as much as we’ve enjoyed it by ourselves. By contrast, reading has always been primarily a personal activity, something we do on our own—discussion groups and author events notwithstanding. It has never been primarily a social activity.

Revenue in the contemporary music biz has been driven by live shows more than by record sales.
The music business has primarily been able to rally through smarter exploitation of live shows and merchandising. It has been suggested that similarly in publishing, we need to create better festivals and live events that can add value to books, as a way of saving our industry. I disagree with this. Revenue in the book business never has been, and never will be, driven by live events.

The majority of book buyers will not be attending book festivals and events—they already don’t. If they do, it’s once every few years and they spend very little money there. Think about how much money fans are willing drop at a concert of their favorite rock band. A couple might spend two hundred dollars on tickets, another hundred on parking and food, possibly another hundred or so on merchandise. Four hundred dollars per couple would be normal. Can you imagine the masses spending that much money—or even 1/4th of that ($100) on an author event? In an environment where more and more people are loathe to pay $15 for a book by their favorite author?

There is a crucial difference between music events and book events.
The pleasure of listening to music is an integral part of a music event. By contrast, a book event doesn’t include the experience a reader most craves, which is sitting down to read a book. It may include hearing parts of a book read aloud; discussion of books, and other activities having to do with books, but the primary draw of a book is completely missing. So music events can’t be analagous with book events.

Sales of recorded music have dramatically shifted.
One of the things that has dramatically changed the music landscape is the ability for consumers to buy single songs rather than entire records. We do this routinely on iTunes. Instead of selling an entire CD, many artists are only selling 1/10th of a CD as people pick and choose, and decide to only buy one song rather than ten.

But a book is still a book. Consumers won’t be buying 1/10th of a book. However, possibly due to the iTunes model, we are now buying entire books for the price of a single song! How can that be good for the book business as a whole? How can it be good for authors? This is another area where, unlike the music industry, we can’t make this model work to the advantage of either the artist or the publishing company.

In music, sales of physical product (CDs) is still as strong as sales of electronic product.
This is one way we CAN learn from the music business. Ten years after the advent of the iPod, CDs are still selling. And there aren’t even any music stores like there used to be! We need to pay attention to the fact that people like to own a physical product (such as a book). Let’s not be too quick to assume the physical book is imminently headed for obsolescence.

Bottom line: While we need to be studying the music industry to learn what we can, it’s also important to be studying how music and books differ, and asking ourselves how that affects what we can learn and how seriously we should take the comparison.

 

Thanks again Rachelle for sharing your post.

One of the characters from MURDER ON MUSIC ROW will return Friday as my guest blogger. Come back to see what those girls are up to now.

~Kay

 

© 2011 Kay Elam

 
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Posted in All About Me, BLOG POSTS, Guest Posts, Wednesday Posts, Wednesday Wisdom, Writing

 

Manic Monday: Tips for Finding a Literary Agent

25 Apr

Hello everyone,

Before seeking a literary agent it’s best to have written a riveting novel, an attention-getting query letter, and a stupendous synopsis. Oh! You’ve done all that? Then let’s go . . .

I think the most important tip is to find an agent who is a good match for you. If your neighbor recently found an agent to represent his book on 500 ways to store baseball bats, chances are his agent wouldn’t be the best choice for your book on decorating cupcakes while riding side-saddle. (Your horse, your horse!)

The best way to find an agent is through a personal referral—someone who knows you, who also knows the agent and who thinks the two of you will click. In an ideal world this agent/client pairing would be a lifelong relationship. Making a good decision at this stage of the game is almost as important as choosing a mate. Oh, come on. I said almost. Maybe the 500 bat agent wasn’t right for you, but perhaps someone in his office is a horse loving mama who wants cupcakes classified as a food group. Or maybe your sister’s tennis partner’s cousin’s mother-in-law is in a Bridge Club with your agent crush’s mom. If you don’t ask, the answer is no.

The second best way to find agents is to introduce one’s self to them at a conference or some other place where they might hang. This does not include public restrooms, their children’s birthday parties, or interrupting them if they are talking to someone else. (Manners!) It’s most important not to stalk them—even if that angel of a ticket agent reassigned your seat to be next to your dream agent on the four-hour flight you are sharing. (And yes, you do have to send the ticket agent the case of wine you promised!) Introduce yourself, smile, be pleasant, but let the agent take the lead in the conversation. It’s okay to tell her you’re a writer of science fiction, but don’t list all the funky character names you used in your novel. Not cool. Be yourself.

The way most of us go about meeting an agent is through the query process. Many agents are more particular about how they want their queries than how they want their morning coffee. For that reason, always, Always, ALWAYS check the agency website to determine how each agent wants hers formatted. On the sunny side the “guts” of your query doesn’t have to change from query to query.

Now make a list of qualities you want in an agent and prioritize. You want one who represents your genre, that’s a given. You might prefer a woman, but would sign with a man if the chemistry was right. You might want an agent who is over forty or under thirty, depending on the genre you write. It’s important to know what you want because soon you are going to have so much agent information it’ll make your head swim and it will be easy to become overwhelmed. (Been there, done that!)

There are a multitude of ways to get agents names and addresses. Most libraries would have books with agent information and, if you are lucky enough to still have a bookstore nearby, you can find books listing agents there. Just remember by the time the book is printed, it is out of date. If you use a book, be sure to check online to verify the information in the book is correct.

Some excellent online sites are Agent Query Connect, Query Tracker, and Publishers Marketplace (PM). There is a charge for PM, but it is oh, so worth it. These sites may not list all the agents in the universe, but unless your book’s subject matter is so obtuse I probably wouldn’t give it a second glance anyway, I guarantee you’ll have more than enough to keep you busy for a while.

Make a list of your favorite (pick a number) agents. Check each one on Predator’s and Editors and Writer Beware. Warning: It’s easy to get lost reading about scams, but these sites exist to keep others from making the same mistake.

Divide your top agents into three groups by answering the following questions: If you saw this agent’s name on your caller ID would you pee on yourself? (group 1); Jump up and down, maybe turn a cartwheel? (group 2); Smile so big you scare your cat? (group 3).

NOW you can start sending your queries. Send one or two from each category. If you get a quick rejection (and you followed the instructions on the agent’s website) ask someone else to read your query. Maybe there is something a little off with it. Make adjustments and send the next batch. Repeat as often as needed until you get the phone call that takes your breath away, then take a big sip of water and say, “Hello.”

~Kay

Update from the farm: Ma Sue went home from the hospital over the weekend. Her two sisters are staying with them until she’s back on her feet again. Pa Herb gets at least a couple of home visits a week from Hospice, so that will also help.

We left Ma Sue recuperating on the sofa Saturday and Pa in his recliner. When returned yesterday, they were on the love seat holding hands. Sweet. K

© 2011 Kay Elam

 
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Posted in All About Me, BLOG POSTS, Manic Monday, Monday Posts, Writing

 

Friday Favorites: Good Friday

22 Apr

Guest blogger: Emma Morgan, character from MURDER ON MUSIC ROW

Whew! I just got the little ones to finally go to sleep. Easter is almost as exciting for them as Christmas even though 5 year-old Abby has already figured out the Easter bunny isn’t real. At least both believe in Santa Clause. I’m guessing we probably have one, maybe two, years left on that, at least with 7-year-old Grace.

The girls and I’ve had a busy day. Of course there was no school, which throws my schedule out of whack—not that I don’t love having my two munchkins underfoot all day long.

After breakfast, they “helped” me plant some petunias, marigolds and angelonia. Normally I’d have the plants in the ground by now, but with the uncertainty of this year’s weather, I was afraid they’d freeze. We hire someone to mow and weed, but the girls and I plant and care for the flowers.  They especially enjoy the herb garden beside the patio as they can snip fresh herbs each evening as we cook summer dinners.

We spent the rest of the morning coloring eggs. My mom did this with my siblings and me, and I think decorating eggs on Good Fridays is one of my favorite childhood memories. So many people buy the plastic ones and I have to admit it is tempting. But once we get into the process, watching them concentrate on creating their masterpieces is worth the cleanup time.

We attended a noon service at church. For Good Friday there are services throughout the day. Afterwards we went to the zoo for an Easter egg hunt. Grace and Abby had a blast and weren’t ready to leave when it was over. I still had to find shoes for Grace for Easter Sunday so lollygagging around wasn’t an option.

We got her shoes at Nordstrom’s—plain, white Mary Jane’s. This got them all excited about their Easter outfits. We had matching dresses made from a lightweight floral fabric and I found adorable pink shrugs to go over them. They each got a new purse and socks with a delicate pink lace around the edge. I got a new hat, but they weren’t interested. I don’t know how many years they’ll want to dress like mommy at Easter, so I’m enjoying it while it lasts.

We were ahead of schedule, for once, so we treated ourselves to mommy/daughter manicures and pedicures. We do this two, maybe three times a year—not so much that it isn’t special. It’s so much fun to watch them pick out their color (with supervision, of course) and the excitement of the treatments makes it difficult for them to sit still.

We stopped by Mom’s on our way home to see if she needed help. She’s planning Easter dinner for our whole family. I have five siblings, so Easter at Mom’s is a major event. She decorates to the nines, and cooks enough we could host another family our size and still have leftovers. The girls got cookies and I got to test some of the main course treats. It’s going to be some meal. Afterwards, she has an egg hunt in her yard and we make lots of pictures. Then the Easter clothes are changed into play clothes and the rest of the day is spent outside playing games or napping on lounge chairs.

Josh beat us home and had picked up pizza from Mellow Mushroom. He also had rented some DVDs so the girls were in heaven. We’d hoped the movies would put them to sleep, but they were bouncing off the walls—I’m pretty sure they got into some chocolate at Mom’s—so getting the settled was a challenge.

By the time we’d finished all of this, we were worn out and nestled in with a nice bottle of wine. Josh asked what I’d blogged about today and I realized I hadn’t. I can’t pull a Loralee and not do it—I’d never hear the end of it—but I’m too tired to do much more than recap our day. As it is, I’m about to fall asleep on the keyboard.

I hope you have a fabulous Easter.

 

~Emma

 

 
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Posted in All About Me, Emma, Friday Favorites, Murder on Music Row, Writing

 

Discover Magic

20 Apr

 

Remember the Revisions class I completed in March? You know the one where I worked my rear end off tearing apart, then putting back together, my novel. To be fair, the teacher did warn us Revisions would be a lot of work, and I knew beforehand only the strong would survive. It was sort of like boot camp (if you can do online boot camp) but it was exactly what I needed to get back on track.

Well, guess what! The teacher, author Lani Diane Rich, is presenting two additional classes beginning May 8th. In Making Magic:Filling the Creative Well she will help her students find their magic throughout the writing progress. It’s designed for any stage writer and she promises it will be as much fun as Revisions was difficult. (No way!)

In Discovery Writing: Finding your Voice, she will help you get to know your characters, find your voice for this story, determine your point of view, and even write a provisional opening scene.

You can actually do the the two classes back to back, as the podcasts will be on Sunday afternoons.

How do I know this? Did Lani and I become BBFs after her class? Well, yes, but that’s another story. No, actually I listen to the daily podcast she does with her new husband, Alastair Stevens. You can go to her website or to iTunes and check them out. Or sign up, and new podcasts will appear in your inbox–like magic! The podcasts are fun, short (usually sometimes), and a great source for tidbits of useful information. The forums (from both the class and the podcasts) are also a great place to make new writing friends.

In fact, five or six of my classmates from Revisions are talking about meeting up in August for Killer Nashville. Now won’t that be fun to actually meet the people behind those silly hilarious obnoxious sleep-deprived brilliant posts? I think so and can’t wait to play host to the BFF’s I did find in Lani’s class.

Check them out. You’ll have a blast.

~Kay

 

Ma Sue update: She had to have two units of blood today, but is strong enough none of us is spending the night at the hospital. She started eating again today with clear broth and something yellow they said was Jello. Today was the first day she’s had visitors other than family and I’m sure that lifted her spirits. We’re thinking she’ll go home Saturday. Pa Herb has his own support system set up at the farm, and he’s holding own, but I’m betting he’ll be glad to get “his girl” back home.

 
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Posted in All About Me, BLOG POSTS, Family, Wildcard Wednesday, Writing

 

Manic Monday

18 Apr

I just got home from the hospital.

Ma Sue’s Friday surgery went fine. They had to remove her entire stomach, then attach her esophagus to her small intestine. The next hurdle will be to make sure there’s no leakage at these spots. She’ll be able to eat small, frequent meals but not much food at once.

Unfortunately the cancer was more widespread than we’d hoped but until we get the pathology reports back we won’t really know the whole picture. She is in a lot of pain, but has some of the good meds ordered to help minimize that. She is resilient and has a “can do” attitude so I know she’ll conquer this like she’s conquer so many other challenges in her life.

Pa Herb is doing well at home with his daughter taking care of him. Ma and Pa talk on the phone every night before “lights out” as though they were courting. It’s sweet to watch. I only hope she remembers it.

We’ve asked visitors not to come. The room is small and a family member is with her 24/7. If others drop by she’ll pull out her southern charm and entertain them just like her mama taught her. She needs to be resting. So far this request has been respected.

Tomorrow they will do a dye test to see if there is leakage and, if not will start her on soft foods and liquids. They’ll also remove the NG tube that goes up her nose and down her throat. She said she’d dance a jig if they’d just take that thing out.

If things stay on schedule, her two younger sisters will come up from Alabama and Mississippi on Thursday, spend Thursday night and take her home on Friday. I’m sure Pa will be happy to see her and I know she wants to sleep in her own bed.

Thanks for your prayers, support and concern. We are blessed to have all of you in our lives.

~Kay

 
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Posted in All About Me, Family, Manic Monday, Monday Posts

 

Friday Favorites

15 Apr

Guest blogger: Nan Macomb, a character from MURDER ON MUSIC ROW

Hi everyone,

Kay asked me to update everyone on Ma Sue. She’s such a sweetheart. (Ma Sue, not Kay–we all know how she can be.)

From what I’m told the surgery was what they expected. They removed her stomach. There was lots of cancer and they are hopeful they got it all. She was only in surgery for a couple hours and went straight to a room from recovery. That’s good because she didn’t have to go to ICU or critical care.

Of course Kay and Greg were there as were Greg’s sister, Susie (who live’s here) and his brother, Alan, who was in from Phoenix. Ma Sue’s sister, Helen, came up from Mississippi. She’s a retired nurse and she’s spending the first night at the hospital. When Ma Sue goes home Helen and their other sister, Nancy, from Mobile, will go home with her to care for her there the first few days.

Kay said they called everybody on Ma Sue’s list, but had to leave lots of messages, so don’t be mad if you were expecting a call and didn’t get one. They tried. Kay and Susie also posted updates on Facebook throughout the day–mostly Susie ’cause Kay found a comfy chair when the surgery was over and took a nap. A long-time family friend, Pat, showed up like little red riding hood with a basket of goodies. Of course Ma Sue can’t eat them but the rest of them can.

One more thing…Kay said they’re requesting no visitors until the first of the week. Ma Sue’s gonna be doped up so she probably won’t know you’re there anyway, so you might as well just stay home. The family will be there to make sure her needs are met and she doesn’t get lonely, but until she gets through the first few days, she doesn’t want company–so unlike her.

Now, I’m sure she’d welcome me because in a day or two we all know she’s gonna have bed head and I’m about the only one we know who can do something with that. I just bettcha I get a special invitation to visit before other friends. We ladies know image is important, even in the hospital.

One of Greg’s clients gave her a prayer shawl. People from his church knitted it, prayed over it, then sent it to her. The one they sent her is multi-hues of green, I’m told, and goes great with her red hair and light coloring. They said they wouldn’t let her wear it in surgery but she wore it right up to it and Kay and Susie had it back on her as soon as she got back to the room.

Kay and Greg checked on Pa Herb on their way home from the hospital. His daughter, with the help of Hospice, is caring for him during Ma Sue’s hospitalization. He wanted to know all about “his girl.” When they finished talking to him, he said he could then go to bed. So sweet.

Well, I guess I’ve spent my post blogging about Ma Sue, but I don’t mind. She’s a sweetheart and makes the best fried apple pies you’ve ever tasted. I’m happy to use my post to let you know she’s doing good even though all I was asked to do was give a brief progress report. This is one thing I don’t mind going above and beyond for.

I hope you all have a good weekend. I’ll be hanging out waiting for them to call me to come get rid of Ma Sue’s bed head.

~Nan


 
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Posted in BLOG POSTS, Family, Friday Favorites, Murder on Music Row, Nan, Writing

 

Wildcard Wednesday

13 Apr

Today I’m not looking for a way to connect this post to writing. I’m not trying to be clever or funny. Today I’m writing from my heart about my mother-in-law, Sue.

Everyone calls her MA SUE. Everyone. Her children, her grandchildren, friends, people in her church, people in the grocery store . . . you get the idea. She’s everyone’s Ma Sue. Lest you form the wrong opinion, she’s not the little old lady mother-in-law type. She’s a feisty, independent redhead who’ll go off on her own in a heartbeat. Back in the 80’s she went to San Francisco for two years to work with AIDS patients. (She’s an RN.) Think about it—the 80’s that’s when people were afraid to be in the same room as someone who was HIV positive.

She loves people. I’ve never seen anyone who enjoys people like she does and she wants to know everyone’s story. She genuinely wants to know and she remembers them. My friends who’ve met her adore her and when she’s met someone new she asks about them until they become Facebook friends and she can keep up with them herself. She often tells me things going on with my friends I didn’t know.

I met her on my third date with Hubby. Afterwards she told me she could tell I was going to be someone special in his life. To this day, she thanks me for making her son happier than she’s ever seen him.  She initiated chats when my stepsons were still trying to figure out their relationship with me and listened when I needed to vent. She welcomed me into the family with open arms and helped with my transition into this new role.

Her husband is Pa Herb. They married in 1991 and are a precious couple. They love to go fishing (I don’t get it), they play cards, this game call on/off rook and are so active in their little country church if they aren’t there, people call to make sure they aren’t sick. They live on a small farm where PA built the farmhouse. They garden and can vegetables and always have a pot of something on the stove. Hubby and I got married on the lake they dammed up near their house.  But I digress, as I’m so prone to do.

Over twenty years ago, Pa had a liver transplant. Almost five years ago, he had a liver abscess, but he’s a tough old coot and survived when we were afraid he wouldn’t. Then a year or so later, against doctors’ advice, he had a knee replacement from which he healed beautifully. He said he did it so he could keep up with the rest of the group when they went to Alaska on a trip he’d been looking forward to. Then he got cancer. He had radiation treatments and they seemed to have worked. He and Ma Sue went on their annual fishing trip to Florida, a little slower, perhaps, but they went. But late last year the cancer came back. The doctors did more surgery and said that was all they could offer. Hospice was called in.  He sits on their back sun porch, comfortable in his recliner, watching the ducks and hummingbirds outside and Westerns on his 46″ flat screen TV.

Ma Sue has been BFF with Martha for over forty years and they’ve talked almost every day since they met. Martha first got cancer a few years ago. We thought she was a survivor, but it came back with a vengeance in December. She went home and Hospice helped keep her comfortable. Last night she died with her family at her side.

Ma Sue has always had a delicate stomach and has been experiencing some stomach aches for the last few months. (Who wouldn’t?) She got scoped a couple of weeks ago. Dr. Hubby watched as the specialist did the procedure. He said her whole stomach was raw. The diagnosis was extreme gastritis and she was put on a mild diet and given some meds to help her feel better.

The next day, on her way home from visiting Martha, she got the call. One of the random tissue samples from the procedure was positive for cancer. Ma Sue has stomach cancer. They did a CT. It looks good and hopefully the cancer is contained to the stomach but there is no way to know until they go in. She saw a surgeon. She saw another surgeon for a second opinion.  Her stomach has to come out. The surgery is scheduled for Friday, the day of Martha’s funeral.

Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers.

I have some super guest blogs lined up but if my blog is late or doesn’t get posted at all in the coming weeks, I hope you’ll overlook it. I’m my toughest critic, but I’m going to try to give myself a break . I am working on a self-imposed deadline after all. One of the characters from MOMR will be here Friday to blog for me.

~Kay

 

 

 
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Posted in All About Me, Family, Wednesday Posts, Wildcard Wednesday

 

Manic Monday: Love is in the air

11 Apr

Spring is here. I’m feeling better and (shhhh) I think I’m in love. Hubby knows. In fact, hubby introduced us.

We first met a couple of weeks ago, but I was still in a bit of a fog with my mystery winter illness and wasn’t sure I wanted to pursue something new without a clear head. While I’m still not 100%, I’m cranking on most cylinders and yesterday was such a gorgeous day, I couldn’t say no when hubby suggested once again it was time to see if we clicked.

I was a little nervous. No I was a lot nervous. After all familiarly breeds content. But change is good (or so I’m told) so out the door I went.

I walked in ahead of Hubby, though he was not far behind. I took a deep breath and looked up.  My heart pounded as its new occupant stared at me from across the room, ready for a new relationship, ready to go home with me. With clearer eyes it was love at first second sight. Sleek. Trim. Young. Hip.

Did I deserve all this? Hubby thought so as he pulled out his American Express and paid for my new MacBook Pro. Thank you, honey.

See you Wednesday . . .

~Kay

 

 
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Posted in All About Me, Manic Monday, Monday Posts, Writing

 

Friday Favorites: Loralee’s back

08 Apr

Guest blogger: Loralee Anderson, a character from MURDER ON MUSIC ROW

Hey ya’ll,

Sounds like you already know I’m in a deep pile of doo doo over missing last Friday’s blog post. Saying it was an April Fool’s Day joke seemed like a perfectly logical explanation to me so I don’t know why they kept giving me the third degree like I was some sort of criminal on Law and Order or something. I didn’t kill nobody. I just forgot to post. . .and it’s been like World War III or something. What’s the big hoop la? Does anybody even read this damn darn thing anyway?

I’m suppost to explain why I missed and I’ve been threatened (yes, really threatened) if I don’t tell the truth I’ll never blog again.

Well, you see, me and Nan has had migraine headaches since we was, well forever. She gets them more than me so I don’t never say much about mine. But mine has been getting worse so I went to a new doctor and she put me on some medicine and that stuff has made me more squirrelly than normal. I forget things, I get lost when I should know good and well where I am, I can’t remember words (not good for a songwriter), all sorts of things like that. Now get this—I called the doctor to tell her about it and she said I can’t go off the medicine, I have to taper off or I might have seizures or fits or something.

So I’m tapering and it’s gonna take like a month or something to get off it completely and longer to get it out of my system for good. Now this is a Vanderbilt educated doctor, not some quack I found in the yellow pages. Wouldn’t you think she’d of told me it could make me nuts?

I didn’t tell Nan and Emma ‘cause they’re both the worrying sort and then we go and have this blog fiasco. I wrote the blog. Really I did. I just forgot to post it. I couldn’t very well tell them that so I told them it was an April Fool’s joke. I figured that’d be easier to believe than this. Now they’re gonna go and get mad at me all over again. Oh well and hell’s bells.

I’m sorry I messed up last week’s post and if it caused anybody to go and get PTSD over the weekend, just let me know and I’ll come sit with you or whatever you need to get you back to normal. Have a good weekend.

~Loralee

 
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Posted in All About Me, Friday Favorites, Loralee, Murder on Music Row, Writing

 
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