Well, I received the rejection letter in the mail for my picture book. I'm a little disappointed, but hardly crushed.
I will keep persevering. I'm going to do some edits, perhaps re-arrange the story a bit and send it out again. Hopefully, I will have a better response with the next one. :)
I would also like to add that I am two chapters away from finishing my novel. YAY!!!!
I am soo happy! Once it is finished, I will then spend the next couple of months doing edits (I plan to re-write the first four or five chapters...eliminating some characters and doing some shifts in the story timeline).
But I am confident that I will be on schedule with my goal of being ready to submit by the summer.
I have also started up with my Arabic studies once again. Can you believe I am still on the alphabet...it's bloody hard!! LOL
But I remembered alot and I am finally getting used to the phonics as well. Sweet. :)
Also, we've finally received the last documents needed for my husband's application. Now, it's just a couple of quick things on my end here, and the papers can be sent off! DOUBLE YAY!
So, although yes, I am finishing the week with a rejection of my writing, I am not feeling that low, as other things have happened to help me stay positive and feel that much closer to our goals.
I hope everyone had a productive and wonderful week and now can relax and enjoy the weekend.
Happy thoughts, everyone and happy weekend. :)
Friday, April 17, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Quote of the Week
It has been a rather uneventful week, other than going back to work. :( :( :(
Can you tell I'm not happy about that? lol
On Saturday, my husband and I woke up and went for a bike ride. It felt absolutely wonderful for the both of us to be out doing something. And the weather is just right now. In a month, month and a half, it will be unbearingly hot and I'll feel too weak to go out and do stuff.
But it is another resolution I have, along with my husband this time...to work up a great routine of cycling. I want to get back into it...So, on top of Tae-bo and belly-dancing, I am hoping to be cycling regularly, going farther distances as each week passes.
A friend of ours inspired us. He'd been feeling down lately, so he decided to cycle from here to Hiroshima on his holidays...It turned out to be more or less 1,000 kms...and he did it, I believe
in about 8 or 9 days.
The longest I've ever cycled was just over 50 kms in a day...pathetic, aren't I?? LOL
Anyhow, so my hubby and I shook our laziness and hit the trails. We didn't go very far...we only did 25 kms...but it's a start... Every weekend we'll be adding an extra 10-15 kms...our goal is to be able to cycle to the city he used to live and back, before the summer hits us. Which is about 80 kms total...
It doesn't seem like much, but for someone who couldn't ride a bike for years, I'm happy to be getting back into it.
Our ride felt great for the both of us...it was wonderful to be out in the sun, enjoying the natural beauty around us. My husband in particular was feeling very refreshed, as he loves cycling and did it quite a bit before. So he's a great motivation for me, as he will help to push our goal farther and farther...who knows? We might hit a 100 kms in one day! I think I'd throw a party if I could do that! :) :)
I tell ya'...it's a great way to spend a Saturday morning: cycling under the sun and feeling the leaves of cherry blossoms caress your cheeks or arms, as they slowly fall to the ground with the light cool breeze.
So, since it is my first touch with nature in a while and the beginning of yet another resolution for myself and this time, my husband as well, I thought I'd leave a couple of quotes about nature, for the week.
These are both from the same author and describe well the recompense one gets when they do their part to interact and appreciate the natural art around us.
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings."
~John Muir~
Have a happy week everyone!
Can you tell I'm not happy about that? lol
On Saturday, my husband and I woke up and went for a bike ride. It felt absolutely wonderful for the both of us to be out doing something. And the weather is just right now. In a month, month and a half, it will be unbearingly hot and I'll feel too weak to go out and do stuff.
But it is another resolution I have, along with my husband this time...to work up a great routine of cycling. I want to get back into it...So, on top of Tae-bo and belly-dancing, I am hoping to be cycling regularly, going farther distances as each week passes.
A friend of ours inspired us. He'd been feeling down lately, so he decided to cycle from here to Hiroshima on his holidays...It turned out to be more or less 1,000 kms...and he did it, I believe
in about 8 or 9 days.
The longest I've ever cycled was just over 50 kms in a day...pathetic, aren't I?? LOL
Anyhow, so my hubby and I shook our laziness and hit the trails. We didn't go very far...we only did 25 kms...but it's a start... Every weekend we'll be adding an extra 10-15 kms...our goal is to be able to cycle to the city he used to live and back, before the summer hits us. Which is about 80 kms total...
It doesn't seem like much, but for someone who couldn't ride a bike for years, I'm happy to be getting back into it.
Our ride felt great for the both of us...it was wonderful to be out in the sun, enjoying the natural beauty around us. My husband in particular was feeling very refreshed, as he loves cycling and did it quite a bit before. So he's a great motivation for me, as he will help to push our goal farther and farther...who knows? We might hit a 100 kms in one day! I think I'd throw a party if I could do that! :) :)
I tell ya'...it's a great way to spend a Saturday morning: cycling under the sun and feeling the leaves of cherry blossoms caress your cheeks or arms, as they slowly fall to the ground with the light cool breeze.
So, since it is my first touch with nature in a while and the beginning of yet another resolution for myself and this time, my husband as well, I thought I'd leave a couple of quotes about nature, for the week.
These are both from the same author and describe well the recompense one gets when they do their part to interact and appreciate the natural art around us.
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings."
~John Muir~
Have a happy week everyone!
Monday, April 06, 2009
My 2nd Crafts Project
When I had my initiation into crafts, paper quilling was the main focus. It was fun and I was able to finish a project within a couple hours...albeit, simple designs, but I did it.
Since then, I've been stocking up on designs and trying to load up on flowers and hearts and leaves and whatnot...filling my 'quilling case', this way it's done and I can just grab what I want, put it together and go from there.
After the quilling, I moved on to another craft that requires quite alot more detail and patience: embroidery.
I had just begun the design for my mini pillow that day and since then, whenever I get a chance, I spend a half hour - an hour continuing...I admit it's coming along very slowly, but I love seeing it come together.
I think I've done enough now where I can add a picture of it, so you can see it and kind of get an idea of what it's supposed to be. *wink wink*
So, here is what I am working on now:
A 10 minutes here, half hour there and it's slowly coming along. :)
These minute details take time, but it's time well-spent. :)
I am also proud to say that I haven't had any angry moments this past week either...I'm following my self-improvement resolutions as best I can.
Still singing 'happy thoughts' when I feel my patience running thin and my temper getting the better of me, and it is working, so I am also quite happy about that :)
The day after tomorrow, it is back to work for me...NOT happy about that :(
I really love staying home...I realize now that since I didn't pursue my dream of being a criminologist or a human rights lawyer, the corporate world doesn't interest me...
I've really enjoyed the last couple of weeks at home with my husband. I was able to get so much done.
I am sad to announce that I didn't reach my writing goal, which was to finish my novel by this week, but I have done well...just these past two days, I've written more than 14 chapters. So I'm nearing the end. I am looking to have it done by the end of this month.
Last night, I stayed up until 3:00 a.m., typing. I love the freedom of being able to do that. :)
Tomorrow I will be meeting with a friend who has just returned home after backpacking around the entire world for the last 3 YEARS...he is my idol!!
He retired early and took off. I really admire him and can't wait to see his pictures and hear amazing stories! :) :)
Time to sign off and will be back soon enough with another post! :)
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Lindsay Ann Hawker
Last month marked the two year anniversary of the death of Lindsay Ann Hawker.
I know most of you will have never heard of her, but her death rattled all us foreigners living here in Japan.
She was a British girl living in Tokyo. She had come over for a year to teach English.
A Japanese guy stopped her on the street asking for lesssons. She gave him one English lesson in a coffee shop a few days later. That same day, he killed her in his apartment and left her body on his balcony.
It's a really creepy story and many of us foreign teachers were greatly affected by her death...because it could've happened to any one of us.
At the time of her death, I was giving 11 private classes apart from my regular job, going to people's home. I know it was stupid of me and I stopped them afterward. I was very lucky.
The police were tipped off about him, went to his place and found him leaving his apartment. The officers found her body and tried to chase after him. They lost him. And they haven't found him to this day.
It's frustrating and must make her family crazy to know that they had the man who killed their daughter in their hands, and they let him slip away.
I was asked to write an article for the Being A Broad magazine, who has tried to raise awareness and make her murderer's face known to everyone, in the hopes of catching him.
The article includes many quotes from her family. I thought it best to use their words mainly, rather than my own. They visited Japan last month also to help people not forget that their is a cold-blooded murderer free on the streets and asking for people to help.
I can't imagine what they must be feeling, nor would I even pretend to. While I was writing the story, I admit there were a few times my emotion got the better of me. Lindsay's story is such a sad one and the love her family had for her is so strong.
Although I've never met the Hawker family, since writing this article, I've had them in my prayers. I hope the police do catch her murderer so her family can finally rest and put closure on this nightmare.
I know most of you will have never heard of her, but her death rattled all us foreigners living here in Japan.
She was a British girl living in Tokyo. She had come over for a year to teach English.
A Japanese guy stopped her on the street asking for lesssons. She gave him one English lesson in a coffee shop a few days later. That same day, he killed her in his apartment and left her body on his balcony.
It's a really creepy story and many of us foreign teachers were greatly affected by her death...because it could've happened to any one of us.
At the time of her death, I was giving 11 private classes apart from my regular job, going to people's home. I know it was stupid of me and I stopped them afterward. I was very lucky.
The police were tipped off about him, went to his place and found him leaving his apartment. The officers found her body and tried to chase after him. They lost him. And they haven't found him to this day.
It's frustrating and must make her family crazy to know that they had the man who killed their daughter in their hands, and they let him slip away.
I was asked to write an article for the Being A Broad magazine, who has tried to raise awareness and make her murderer's face known to everyone, in the hopes of catching him.
The article includes many quotes from her family. I thought it best to use their words mainly, rather than my own. They visited Japan last month also to help people not forget that their is a cold-blooded murderer free on the streets and asking for people to help.
I can't imagine what they must be feeling, nor would I even pretend to. While I was writing the story, I admit there were a few times my emotion got the better of me. Lindsay's story is such a sad one and the love her family had for her is so strong.
Although I've never met the Hawker family, since writing this article, I've had them in my prayers. I hope the police do catch her murderer so her family can finally rest and put closure on this nightmare.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
My Initiation into the Craft World
Well, I finally got to try my hand at some crafts and I gotta say: What fun!
I admit patience is a necessity but it is so relaxing and the tiny little things you make bring such a smile to your face and satisfaction for your soul.
I went over to my friend's house and we started with paper quilling. The paper colours all lined up in the packages you buy are just so pretty! After looking through an illustrated book of paper quilling, I decided on just doing some simple flower and heart designs to start off with, especially since all the instructions were in Japanese.
So, after lots of measuring, cutting, rolling, pushing, pulling, gluing, fumbled fingers and my friend's excellent instructions, I had created my first project in crafts. And it only took two hours!!
Here is my final product:
I admit patience is a necessity but it is so relaxing and the tiny little things you make bring such a smile to your face and satisfaction for your soul.
I went over to my friend's house and we started with paper quilling. The paper colours all lined up in the packages you buy are just so pretty! After looking through an illustrated book of paper quilling, I decided on just doing some simple flower and heart designs to start off with, especially since all the instructions were in Japanese.
So, after lots of measuring, cutting, rolling, pushing, pulling, gluing, fumbled fingers and my friend's excellent instructions, I had created my first project in crafts. And it only took two hours!!
Here is my final product:
It may not look like much, but it does take a long time and precision. Every piece glued onto the frame, needed to be sized, cut, quilled, shaped and glued together.
Each piece is made separately, formed and shaped and glued. Once you have enough to create something, then you put it together to make a heart, or flower petal, or stem, or whatever.
Once it's all glued together to (hopefully) resemble what you want it to, then you have to put it on the frame.
The little white flowers in the top left take the longest. First I did the yellow centers. Then I focused on the white. Each long sheet, needed to be cut to size, then cut numerous times along the edge, then twirled around the yellow center and glued. Then to create the effect of petals, formed, and pushed and spread apart. So, it really does take time.
But now that I know, I will be doing another one with a lot more detail to be used as a collage of pictures of my husband and I. Wish me luck!
Today, I spent another couple of hours making more flowers and other simple designs, and stashing them away in my little cache for my next project.
Two and a half hours, a cup of herbal tea and a bunch of grapes later, we moved on to my next craft: embroidery.
haha.....well, let's just say I didn't finish the tiny cushion I chose to make.
Hooolllyyy tiiiime!! I had no idea how long this stuff took to make.
I won't upload the picture of what I am doing in embroidery until my cloth begins to resemble the picture I plan to make.
But I chose a tiny cushion that has different types of herb plants, as my design. It's really cute.
After...ahem...more than a couple hours...(I won't elaborate)...I managed to finish the square border and one stem line of one herb of a few.
I also didn't realize that embroidery is all about the counting...we had to do a lot of counting to centre the image, to measure, etc. etc.
But, in saying all that, after a few cross-stitches I began to see the pattern form on my fabric and it was the encouragement I needed not to throw in the towel, or the cushion for that matter.
So also today, I spent my morning finishing four other stems. It is coming together...it will definitely take me much longer to finish this than the quilled picture frame, but I'm enjoying it. I cannot deny.
There you have it: my initiation into crafts was a success and I have now crossed to the 'lighter' side of life...it is a wonderful way to pass your time, to spend time with friends, to relax, to lighten your mind and to give yourself some fulfillment.
I would recommend it to anyone. :)
It was just what I needed to finish off my first week in my self-improvement mission.
My husband commented in the car today that I am so relaxed. We were behind an old granny driving about 20 kms/hr in a 60 km/hr zone. It was a swervy and hilly road, so I could not pass him.
If this had happened two weeks ago, I would've been cursing, my heart rate and blood pressure would've shot through the roof and I would've honked and swerved behind the poor man, making him nervous as hell and eventually move to the side to let me through.
Instead, I sat back, sang along with the music and chatted with my husband as we sipped our coffees from 7/11.
He was very impressed with me. And to be honest, I was impressed with me, too. :)
It was a relaxing drive. :)
So now I'll sign off sending out a big thank you to Heather for inspiring me to try my hand at crafts and to Caren for having the patience to teach and guide me.
And once I post this, I'm going to open my file and continue writing my novel, which I added another 3 chapters to, last night.
Have a wonderful week everyone :)
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Quote of the Week
Well, I'm going to include two quotes this week, only because both of them are perfectly in line with my mission of self-improvement.
Read, enjoy and take them to heart :)
"Nobody can bring you peace but yourself."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson~
"Peace begins with a smile."
~Mother Teresa~
Happy thoughts, everyone!
Read, enjoy and take them to heart :)
"Nobody can bring you peace but yourself."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson~
"Peace begins with a smile."
~Mother Teresa~
Happy thoughts, everyone!
A nice glimpse of the future
This week has been a refreshingly calm week. Yes, I'm still crazy busy, but I'm smiling and my shoulders are relaxed and my hair is done nicely and my glass of wine is a nice treat, not a relaxer.
I have now started my Spring Break holiday, but here in Japan it is our end of the year holiday and the new school year will start, for us foreigners in a couple of weeks.
These next two weeks will still be busy as we are finalizing my husband's papers and doing a major cleaning to get rid of most of our stuff to get an early start on packing. I also plan on finishing my novel within these next two weeks.
I have about another 10-15 chapters to go, but I am determined to finish it. Then dedicate the next 2 or 3 months to making the final edits. Then, it's off to a publishing house or agent for rejection or acceptance...of course, all in the house are hoping for the latter! *wink wink*
Getting older doesn't seem such a taboo issue with me anymore. No, no. I'm actually enjoying each day as my life is shaping up to be just how I want it to be.
I'm learning to relax more, learning to let the little things fly with the wind and the big things not to consume me. I'm enjoying learning the things I've taken upon myself to learn. I'm learning to be more optimistic. I'm learning to be even stronger than I thought I was at facing possibilities/obstacles.
And I'm learning to enjoy a good glass of wine, or a steaming hot coffee, appreciating the nature around me. I've passed a couple of days in the exact manner I've painted my 'future' picture as. Relaxing with my husband over a nice coffee in the morning, watching the sun rise and writing.
I've had the pleasure of learning the feeling my writing tutors described when they talk about 'whipping up an article and sending it off'. And also when they talked about feeling like a writer and the satisfaction when the paper or magazine shows up on your doorstep and you open it to read your article.
Yes, this week has been the exact mimick of what I am planning my life to be like by the end of this year. It takes time, but each day is one step closer. Each day is a separate pleasure I'm learning not to take for granted.
Okay, so there are my thoughts for the night and now I'll sign off wishing everyone a wonderful week. Find beauty in the little things. It makes life so much more pleasurable. :)
I have now started my Spring Break holiday, but here in Japan it is our end of the year holiday and the new school year will start, for us foreigners in a couple of weeks.
These next two weeks will still be busy as we are finalizing my husband's papers and doing a major cleaning to get rid of most of our stuff to get an early start on packing. I also plan on finishing my novel within these next two weeks.
I have about another 10-15 chapters to go, but I am determined to finish it. Then dedicate the next 2 or 3 months to making the final edits. Then, it's off to a publishing house or agent for rejection or acceptance...of course, all in the house are hoping for the latter! *wink wink*
Getting older doesn't seem such a taboo issue with me anymore. No, no. I'm actually enjoying each day as my life is shaping up to be just how I want it to be.
I'm learning to relax more, learning to let the little things fly with the wind and the big things not to consume me. I'm enjoying learning the things I've taken upon myself to learn. I'm learning to be more optimistic. I'm learning to be even stronger than I thought I was at facing possibilities/obstacles.
And I'm learning to enjoy a good glass of wine, or a steaming hot coffee, appreciating the nature around me. I've passed a couple of days in the exact manner I've painted my 'future' picture as. Relaxing with my husband over a nice coffee in the morning, watching the sun rise and writing.
I've had the pleasure of learning the feeling my writing tutors described when they talk about 'whipping up an article and sending it off'. And also when they talked about feeling like a writer and the satisfaction when the paper or magazine shows up on your doorstep and you open it to read your article.
Yes, this week has been the exact mimick of what I am planning my life to be like by the end of this year. It takes time, but each day is one step closer. Each day is a separate pleasure I'm learning not to take for granted.
Okay, so there are my thoughts for the night and now I'll sign off wishing everyone a wonderful week. Find beauty in the little things. It makes life so much more pleasurable. :)
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