Over the weekend I dug out some of my old pieces of work, mainly when I used to write poetry and song lyrics.  Looking back now they all seem so sad...words of love lost and dreams gone unfufilled.  Yet they they had meaning to me and so I've kept them all these years, hidden away and untouched until now.  I thought I would share an untitled piece with you today that I wrote in 1988.  I can't remember now what person or event inspired me to write this, but I thought with the passing of Memorial Day it was fitting

As the sun is setting across the sky
Deep from within I hear a cry
 A cry from a voice that I once knew
That brought me laughter and happiness too

The sun is shinning but my tears are wet
And my times with you I'll never forget
The wind is gently blowing my hair
I call for you, but you're no longer there

As the one last tear drop falls from my eye
I can't believe I'm waving good-bye
But I wish you the best in whatever you may do
And please, just remember, I'll always love you!

This weekend started off in the typical way, with my mind mapped out with all of the things that I was going to get accomplished.  I always have good intentions, but it seems like it always finishes with my list only half done because life just gets in the way.  I am reminded of the song LIFE HAPPENED by Tammy Chochran. It is a suddle reminder that the universe allows us to finish only what we were intended to. 

I was a little remissed that I went two days without posting a new blog, but now I realized that sometimes my focus needs to be elsewhere.  I was still writing, but also doing alot of research.  It is amazing how much precision goes into formatting your work so that it's perfect in the literary world.  Everything is very precise and I obsessed all weekend on not missing a single detail.

My master writing class has also been keeping me busy.  This week I need to be prepared to critique two of my fellow classmates drafts.  The work is of their choice, and they are to listen passively while their peers offer praise and suggestions on how to improve their work.  I read the writing several times because I wanted to make sure that I can offer both equally.

And so it was that most of my other plans for the holiday weekend went unfufilled.  I still have some shopping and preperation to do for an upcoming get together, and it looks like any hopes for simply relaxing have gone out the window.  My car is still sitting in the garage unwashed and the grass seed I intended to plant remains sealed in it's container.  Life happens to be too short, so maybe I'll stop worrying about all of the little things. Now I can cross at least one thing of my list!

I am not alone when AAhhh, the Memorial Day sales are underway, a major holiday in the retail industry. Our mailboxes and inboxes are flooded with sale ads in hopes of luring money savvy consumers into their stores. The television commercials offer us glimps of some great deals to be found, which leads to the topic of conversation at the watercool at work. Does it work?? You bet it does!

I am one of those proud thrifty buyers who will spend hours seeks out a good deal and then brag about how little I paid for it the next day. One time I actually framed my sales receipt and deemd it my best score ever. I never pay full price for anything....food, clothing, travel and even entertainment can be found at a discounted price if you know where to look.

Scoping out a once in a lifetime deal send out endorphins into my body that will leave me giddy for days.  The Memorial Day sales come in a faint second to Black Friday, which to me is a religious holiday.  I will spend weeks pouring over the unleaked sale flyers (that I always manage to view before being released to the public) and map out my plan of attack.  It is a well organized day that requires a tight schedule.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm no Extreme Couponer.  While I have been known to take home 3 bags of groceries for a total of $0.67, it is rare that I am able to come across those kind of deals on a regular basis given today's economy.  But I always do my homework before making any purchase.  Price comparision is a must, and knowing how to combine sales with coupons and store rewards can add up to big savings. 

Another great trick is to buy off season.  With a little preperation you can plan ahead and save tons.  The perfect time to buy jeans is right now, at the beginning of summer.  The stores are trying to get rid of their inventory and the sales racks are filled with brand name denim for around $7.00 each.  Wait two more months to buy the same item and you'll be looking at $40 or greater for the same item, simply because consumers will be doing back to school shopping in August.  That patio set you've been eyeing?  If you can hold out the prices will plummet from $800 now at peak season down to $75 in October.  You may not have it for this summer, but store it away and next spring you'll break it out thanking yourself for saving so much money.

I encourage everyone to shop happy this weekend.  I myself think it's the perfect time to start my Christmas shopping.  My husband has been hinting at some pretty expensive stuff and I'm willing to bet that I can get some things at least 50% off before December.  Who knows, I may even score a 90% off discount if I look on the clearance rack....here's hoping!!

As my husband and I sat out on the deck discussing our plans for the upcoming holiday weekend, I couldn't help but to reflect on all of my favorite things that happen during this time of year.  Summer has always been my favorite season.  The sights and smells that come along with the long days and warm nights always seem to put me in a tranquil mood.  It is a time that I cherish and keep with me during the long cold winter.

The scene always starts with the lush green trees that quickly follow by the colorful flowers emerging into full bloom.  To see the world in such vividness is true beauty beyond compare.  Slowly and steadily the rest of the world transforms into a summertime spectacular. The scent of fresh cut grass permiates through my nose and makes me long for the day when I get the chance to visit the beach and smell the fresh ocean air.  With warm sand creeping up inbetween my toes I walk towards the waves and giggle as they come crashing upon my legs.

On the days when my view limited to my own backyard I am still mystified as I watch a gently breeze swaying the laundry on the clotheslines.  When the sun sets and the moon is our only light, I like to put a few logs on the campfire ring and listen to the crackle of the wood sing me song.  I will help my daughter find a roasting stick and together we will stand by the fire roasing marshmellows and making s'mores.

The simple gift that nature has supplies us with is something that needs to be treasured.  I need nothing more than my five senses to find joy within my surroundings.  The summer months will go by fast and I want to take in all that it has to offer and make some memories that will last a lifetime, and hopefully install some traditions  that will get passed on to the next generation.

 

Words.  We start learning the meaning of the words that surrond our world when we are just babies. Our comprehension of them expands as we grow and within a few short years we are learning to express ourselves by means of writing.  Tonight we took time to celebrate all of the wonderful writers in the annual Oswego Reading Council Writing Contest.

The rules were simple.  Every person from Pre-K through adult in the Oswego County Area was invivted to participate on this years topic...The Person I Admire Most.  With over 800 entries the judges narrowed the chocies down to the top three stories in each grade level, and the winners gathered together tonight to accept their awards.  The first place winner in each category was also given the honor of reading their entry to the audience.

I was fully prepared to hear stories of actors and singers being admired by today's youth, but the theme was consistent throughout each level. Everyone strongly agreed that it was a family member that meant the most to them.  Hearing the 4, 5 and 6 year olds read their stories was utterly adorable and very impressive.  Despite their young age they fully understood the meaning of family values and proudly carried it over in their writing piece.  As the age level increased, the length of the writing did as well, bringing with it more details on how a loved one has influenced their lives. 

As the adult category was called to come up for their award I walked up to the podium with a sense of accomplishment. I was proud to be standing amongst other great writers.  My second place ribbon will be hung on the wall as a reminder that I will achieve my goal of becoming an author if I continue to work hard at it. I would like to thank all of you who came out to witness my humble beginning as I attempt broaden my horizons.  I appreciate all of the support that you continue to show me on a daily basis.

With the demands of a full time job, a family and a daughter with a very busy schedule, I find that I tend to put off those little tasks that simply can wait for a more convient time.  There is always something more pressing that needs my attention so I figured there is no harm in waiting for a rainy day. Little by little I let things pile up, now the amount of it all has gotten me overwhelemd and completely stressed.

Another weekend was coming to a close with long honey do list still stuck to the fridge, I knew that it was now or never.  Today was the day that I needed to start relieving myself of some undo anxiety, so that I could concentrate on my larger goals.  To make myself accountable I took a few moments to prioritize my list and put myself on a schedule.  I wanted to get everything done and still have time to enjoy the day.  Could I do it?

My mind was focused on the finish line so I did not allow for any distractions.  This meant that the phone went unanswered and I did not check my email until I was done. (That was hard to do!!).  One by one I started crossing off my accomplishments, and with that my stress level decreased.  It was actually a good feeling to finally take charge of my life.  By the time 2:30 came around I was found lying in my hammock with a magazine in my hand.  I had done it!!!

As I look around now I can feel a sense of peace.  My calendar is jam packed for the next two weeks but now I can focus solely on what each day brings without having to worry about when I will find time to squeeze in something else.  What lessons have I learned from this?  First I realized that nobody can do it all by themselves.  It's impossible to be the Stepford wife and the perfect mom.  I do not need to assume all of the responsiblity for everything while the rest of the family gets to do as they please.  It needs to be a team effort if we all want to succeed.  Second I need to stop taking on so much.  My husband is right when he says that I bring it all on myself.  I am going to try to cut our schedules down for the rest of the year and stop feeling guilty if I have to say no once in a while.  Lastly I have come to the conclusion that if I don't take care of myself I cannot live up to my potential when taking care of others.  I have going to carve out some "me time" every day, even if it's just for a few moments.  15 minutes of tranquility can lead to a more productive life.  With that being said, I am going outside now to my garden where I plan on sitting down and smelling each rose that I worked so hard to plant.

17 years ago Heidi M. Allen was kidnapped from her place of employment, never to be heard from again.  Since then her sister Lisa Buske has made it her mission to keep Heidi's memory alive. She has spoken pubically  to raise awareness, taken part in the Ride For Missing Children, and has also written a book about her sister's abduction.  But there was still a need to help ease the pain of having to drive past the exactly spot where her sister was lost, so Lisa spearheaded another project. In 2009 the Community Garden in memory of Heidi M. Allen broke ground, bringing with it a symbol of hope for those who have lost loved ones.

Tomorrow the community will gather once again to renew their hopes and their dedication to remember Heidi.  At 12:30 caring citizens will gather at the Sun Up gas station (formerly D&W) where Heidi was kidnapped and take part in an annual spring cleaning & planting event. The day will be spent reviving the garden in honor of Heidi. While I never got the opportunity to meet Heidi, it is easy to see how much she was loved by the amount of support she has received from her community over the years.  I would like to encourage all of you to continue that tradition and come and partcipate with us. 

For more information on this event or on Heidi Allen, please visit her sister's website at LisaBuske.Weebly.Com or Facebook.com/LisaBuske

What a great day.  Opportunities have risen once again for me to share my story with others, in hopes of inspiring them to move on despite of the adversitites that they have faced.  While I can't divulge any more details at this point, I will keep everyone updated as the time come closer.

My focus for the next month is two fold.  The first is to count down the days until summer....at which I can fully concentrate on my second goal...edit the final chapters of my book.  Naively I thought I would of had my manuscript finished by the end of last summer, but there is so much more to the process than I ever realized.  Perfection cannot be rushed so if I have to extend my deadline for the sake of quality I won't mind too much.

I am preparing to be one of two featured writers during my master writing class.  This will give me a one hour critique session with my peers and then an individualized crititique session with the teacher.  I absolutely cannot wait for their input.  I love hearing what they think works wonderfully and what I may want to tweak for better perception. 

Another very busy weekend is approaching and my plate is overflowing with both professional and personal obligations.  I am hoping to find some time to enjoy the sunshine (I'm being optimistic that we will get some), and  get some yard work done.  My summer flowers are starting sprout and they ne

Last night was the first night in a week that I had no prior commitments and could actually come straight home from work and relax.  It had been so long that I almost forgot what the meaning of the word was, but wasted no time in capturing all that it had to offer.  I took a long soak in the tub and then snuggled into a pair of comfy pj's.  Like usual the feel of the water not only relaxed my mind, but unleashed my writing potential.

I pulled out some editing that I've been putting off and got straight to work.  What was perplexing me before now seemed perfectly clear, and resulted in some very poetic chapters.  My words have gone from telling the audience a story to making them feel that they were really in the scene.  Very exciting!!!

I should have some more time later this week to finely tune my first five chapters in preperation for my master writing class.  The editing process has taken me over a year and a half so far, but it has been worth it.  With each class that I attend I take home with me more information and knowledge on what is the most effective use of my words.  I also find that I carry this over into my day job and I push my students to use more details on their writing pieces as well.  It's amazing how a few extra words can transform soembody's work.

Today's goal is to finish editing where I left off last night.  My laptop is backed in my work bag and my notes are ready to be plugged in their respective chapters.  I have enough time carved out for today where I should be able to complete this task, but my fingers are crossed that no unforseen gliches come up between now and then.  I've learned that in my life I need to expect the unexpected!

I'm sure you've seen this old cliche on hundreds of tiny trinkets, some of which I'm willing to gamble that you have actually given to your childs teachers.  The saying is meant to be a metaphor but for me and 400 other teachers it was really true today.  While all of our kiddos were sleeping in and relaxing on this rainy day all of the teachers in our district got to go to school and learn more effective ways to improve our classrooms.

Bright and early this morning I got snuggled in for a 7 hour class on intervention techniques for children who are struggling to keep up with their peers academically. The day wasn't done just yet!  After the first training I attended a 3 hour class on de esculating students who are in a crisis.  We got to practice how to safely remove ourselves from restraints if we were to be attacked.  Great fun!

During my 90 minute lunch I managed to sneak away to get some quality editing done on my book.  I was on such a roll that the time just flew by.  While I am anxious to pick up where I left off, my daughter is demanding some of my time as well.  I hate days like today when I don't get to see her that much.

It all made for a very long day, so I am going to keep my blog short in an effort to retain what little energy I have left.  Nighty night!