It's Over!

I woke up today thinking “I’m glad that’s over!” First the earthquake, then the hurricane which coincided with our move across the street. It was a stressful weekend, but it is done. We moved, we hunkered down, and now let the unpacking commence.

Just to give you a quick recap, it took me about 3 hours to get home on Friday night because everyone was evacuating the greater NY/NJ area. Saturday morning, we started moving. (I would like to offer a huge thank you to my brother-in-law, Ruben, and my nephew, Jonathan, without whom we would still be carrying boxes.) We worked until the first raindrops started to fall before calling it quits and hunkering down for the storm. Everyone slept great that night except for me who was clued to the live news streaming tracking Irene. Many of you were on facebook with me commiserating and that helped me so much! Thankfully we had no flooding in our new home although many of the surrounding areas weren’t as lucky.

On Monday, we hired a few guys to come and move the heavy furniture. Worth every penny! Today I am back at work -- it took over 2 hours to get here! Just grateful that we are all safe.

Here’s hoping that his week is not nearly as exciting as last week!!

Hurricane!

First an earthquake and now a hurricane. The entire East Coast is watching Hurricane Irene as it is creeping towards the northeast. I am hoping that all the models are wrong and that it won’t be anything major… especially since we are MOVING this weekend! Can you imagine carrying boxes and furniture in the rain? Either way, I know God has his hands on us.

For those of you with kids, how have you eased concerns or worries about storms and earthquakes. This week has opened up a whole new field of questions from Christopher. I think he was nervous about me when he heard the word earthquake, and I know he is less than thrilled that this upcoming hurricane has ruined our planned trip to Hershey Park. He was too little to remember the four hurricanes we rode out while living in Florida. I answered his questions as best I could and realized what he really wanted,was a task or job to do. Something to be responsible for so last night I assigned him his “hurricane tasks”.

1. Gather the emergency snacks and water
2. Gather pillows and blankets
3. Gather batteries and flashlights
4. Gather games for the family to play during the storm
5. Keep your favorite stuffed animals near your sleeping area.

It seems to have helped him cope a little better about what to expect. Most importantly, we just remind him that God is with us even through the storms of life… both real storms and other trials that come our way.

Shake, Rattle and Roll

All I can say is what a week! I didn’t think that at my age, I would still be experiencing many “firsts”. At this point, I pretty much have had the mantra of “been there, done that, bought the t-shirt.”

Growing up in the Northeast, I am used to enjoying the beauty that the four seasons brings us each year. With each season comes potential weather issues such as blizzards, occasional tornado warnings, heat waves, etc. Well, this past Tuesday I was able to add tremor from earthquake to that list. I honestly never thought I’d feel an earthquake as long as I kept my feet on northeastern soil. I figured that was a “west coast” issue and one that I wouldn’t have to experience as long as I kept this body on this coast.

I was at work on the 32nd floor of a high-rise in Midtown Manhattan when all of a sudden I felt my chair and my feet moving up and down. For a moment I thought it was just me and I jumped up. I felt dizzy and thought I was sick or something. I sat down again and still felt it and very quickly sought out some other people who said they felt it too. At first, no one knew what to do. I grabbed my sneakers, my purse and cell phone and headed to the reception area. The Fire Marshall for the building made an announcement that they were “investigating the cause”. In the meantime, our cell phones were erupting with texts and social media sites were already telling us about the earthquake. We evacuated our office and were then sent home for the day which was another challenge in itself because my bus broke down on the way. At last, I made it home and just hugged my family for a while, just being grateful that it wasn’t something m ore serious.

I must say I was really annoyed by a few “friends” on facebook who were really putting us down over the quake. I know many people have made a big joke over this (and find it ironic that the majority of them were no where near NYC on 9/11), but to those of us who live and work in the NY area, especially with the 9/11 anniversary just weeks away, any hint of an emergency just fuels us to GET OUT! So, I make no apologies for evacuating at the first hint of a tremor and, if that’s amusing to you, well let’s see how well you fare if you were literally sitting in a high rise with the floor moving underneath YOU! Thanks to the many of you who sent me sincere texts and facebook comments concerned about my safety…I truly love you and value you!

Moving By The Numbers

I know I haven't widely broadcast this.. but we are MOVING.... yes, again! Thankfully, this move is not cross country, up north, down south or even out of state. In fact, this move is not even 30 miles from our home... our move is so close that we don't even need a moving truck! That's right, people.. we are moving onto the street! (Just kidding) We are literally moving ACROSS THE STREET to another town home on our block. Long story short, the owner of our current town home is selling our unit (and asking way too much money!) and our neighbors across the street just bought a home elsewhere but don't want to sell their unit because of the down economy. The win, win for us is that their unit is move in ready and has just been totally remodeled (and did I mention CHEAPER?! ) I chalk it up to another blessing from God. Sooo... because August has not been stressful enough with doctor appointments for pesky kidney and gall stones, we are moving on Saturday to round out our crazy August.

Here's where my head is out today....

8 - Number of years married

7 - Age of our son

6 - Number of days left until we move

5 - Number of times we've moved since we are married (see # 8)

4 - Number of people willing to help us move (I hope they show up! lol)

3 - Number of years we have been living back in NJ

2 - Number of parking spaces we'll have in our new driveway (compared to only having 1 now)

1 - Number of minutes before I am discovered typing and not packing. Bye, bye....

"The Help"

I just finished reading this book ("The Help"' by Kathryn Stockett) and thought her experience on just getting the book published was very interesting considering it's a bestseller and was made into a movie that is playing nationwide now.

Kathryn Stockett's 'The Help' Turned Down 60 Times Before Becoming a Best Seller


If you ask my husband my best trait, he’ll smile and say, “She never gives up.” But if you ask him my worst trait, he’ll get a funny tic in his cheek, narrow his eyes and hiss, “She. Never. Gives. Up.”
It took me a year and a half to write my earliest version of The Help. I’d told most of my friends and family what I was working on. Why not? We are compelled to talk about our passions. When I’d polished my story, I announced it was done and mailed it to a literary agent.
Six weeks later, I received a rejection letter from the agent, stating, “Story did not sustain my interest.” I was thrilled! I called my friends and told them I’d gotten my first rejection! Right away, I went back to editing. I was sure I could make the story tenser, more riveting, better.

A few months later, I sent it to a few more agents. And received a few more rejections. Well, more like 15. I was a little less giddy this time, but I kept my chin up. “Maybe the next book will be the one,” a friend said. Next book? I wasn’t about to move on to the next one just because of a few stupid letters. I wanted to write this book.

A year and a half later, I opened my 40th rejection: “There is no market for this kind of tiring writing.” That one finally made me cry. “You have so much resolve, Kathryn,” a friend said to me. “How do you keep yourself from feeling like this has been just a huge waste of your time?”
That was a hard weekend. I spent it in pajamas, slothing around that racetrack of self-pity—you know the one, from sofa to chair to bed to refrigerator, starting over again on the sofa. But I couldn’t let go of The Help. Call it tenacity, call it resolve or call it what my husband calls it: stubbornness.

After rejection number 40, I started lying to my friends about what I did on the weekends. They were amazed by how many times a person could repaint her apartment. The truth was, I was embarrassed for my friends and family to know I was still working on the same story, the one nobody apparently wanted to read.

Sometimes I’d go to literary conferences, just to be around other writers trying to get published. I’d inevitably meet some successful writer who’d tell me, “Just keep at it. I received 14 rejections before I finally got an agent. Fourteen. How many have you gotten?”
By rejection number 45, I was truly neurotic. It was all I could think about—revising the book, making it better, getting an agent, getting it published. I insisted on rewriting the last chapter an hour before I was due at the hospital to give birth to my daughter. I would not go to the hospital until I’d typed The End. I was still poring over my research in my hospital room when the nurse looked at me like I wasn’t human and said in a New Jersey accent, “Put the book down, you nut
job—you’re crowning.”

It got worse. I started lying to my husband. It was as if I were having an affair—with 10 black maids and a skinny white girl. After my daughter was born, I began sneaking off to hotels on the weekends to get in a few hours of writing. I’m off to the Poconos! Off on a girls’ weekend! I’d say. Meanwhile, I’d be at the Comfort Inn around the corner. It was an awful way to act, but—for God’s sake—I could not make myself give up.

In the end, I received 60 rejections for The Help. But letter number 61 was the one that accepted me. After my five years of writing and three and a half years of rejection, an agent named Susan Ramer took pity on me. What if I had given up at 15? Or 40? Or even 60? Three weeks later, Susan sold The Help to Amy Einhorn Books.

The point is, I can’t tell you how to succeed. But I can tell you how not to: Give in to the shame of being rejected and put your manuscript—or painting, song, voice, dance moves, [insert passion here]—in the coffin that is your bedside drawer and close it for good. I guarantee you that it won’t take you anywhere. Or you could do what this writer did: Give in to your obsession instead.

The article was written by Kathryn Stockett

What Is Up With August

It has been a very busy month for me and my health. For those of you who follow me on facebook, you may have seen my posting about going to the doctor. About a month or so ago I started having severe pain in between meals… I mean SEVERE pains. I was nauseous and knew that I needed to get to a doctor. So, I set up an appointment with my primary doctor and, after discussing my symptoms, she sent me off for an ultrasound.

They discovered 3 kidney stones (one in my left kidney and 2 in my right). The urologist said that they will either pass or get bigger. Either way, I am sure in for a lot more pain before it gets better. So, I am drinking a ton of water and I’m on a low fat diet..just waiting until I pass these stones or for 6 months to pass.. whichever should happen first. If nothing happens in 6 months then I am back to the doctor for another ultrasound to see if they have gotten bigger and then he will likely blast them so I can pass them.

The other issue I am having is that the real cause of my abdominal pain was not the kidney stones, but rather the gallstones they found in my gall bladder! So, another visit with another physician.. this time a surgeon and low and behold my gallbladder has to come out on October 7th. So, if you could add me to your prayer list, I would greatly appreciate it.

August is just full of surprises!

Hey.. I've Been Here Before!

Have you ever wandered down a street only to have that weird sensation that you’ve been there before? Maybe you can instantly recall the first time you were there… who you were with… why you were there... what you were doing or where you were going. It’s funny how that happens in life. Maybe you visited your old hometown or a place where you used to live. It can conjure up all kinds of feelings-immense joy or intense sorrow depending on the situation.

I had such a sensation back in May when I found myself walking through the streets of NYC on my way to a job interview with a company I had worked for many, many years ago. The sights of NYC had certainly not changed all too much….tall buildings, check; lots of people, check; wearing sneakers so I don’t break my neck walking, check; musicians in the subway, check; mysterious smells, check. So much the same yet there was one very obvious change. One thing that was totally not the same as the last time I walked through here… it was ME…

You see, the last time I had worked for this company (one of the world’s largest executive search firms), I was a single gal searching for who I was. Just fresh out of college, looking to find my way. Still wondering what God’s plan for my life was. I worked here for about four years and trust me when I say that I was shy, insecure and searching for what would make me happy. I laugh because I honestly felt like the prodigal child who had come home my first few days here. To say I was welcomed with open arms is an understatement.. in fact, I don’t even think they called any of my references!

In many ways it feels like I’ve come full circle.. but yet I haven’t. Same company yes, but totally different person walking in my shoes. I thank God for that and for this amazing opportunity that he has provided for me and my family. I don’t know how long I will be here in this season of my life, but I just give each and every day over to the Lord to use me and know that he has his hand on me and my family.

Oh, and a side note for my Mary Kay customers, fear not.. I am still doing Mary Kay and plan to still be a Director. God will work it all out in his time.

Monday or Tuesday

Today must be a Monday…only it’s not. It’s Tuesday but I was so tired when I got into work today, I was convinced that it HAD to be Monday. I honestly didn’t know how I was going to get through today and was seriously contemplating a cup of coffee – which means I was REALLY tired.

So, I did my Mister Roger’s routine of taking off my walking sneakers, putting on my sweater and turning on my computer and prepared myself for what was going to be a very long day. Just as I let out a big sigh, my eye caught a glimpse of my Barbara Johnson daily calendar “Splashes of Joy”. God knows I needed a splash today. So, I flipped the page to today’s date to be greeted with: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest;” Matthew 11:28. I instantly smiled and bowed my head and gave thanks for a loving God who gives rest to the weary. I gave all my concerns, worries and fatigue to the Lord and knew that the day was only going to get better. It definitely feels like Tuesday now.