THREE WISE MEN

Phew!

My mind. Is back...

Having taken quite a side trip.

It all started with a rejection letter.

Not so unusual…

I’ve gotten a few since I started the submission process…

And I rolled with them. No biggie.

But the last one was personal…

“I’m afraid these pages do not draw me in as hoped"...

Aw. Really?

I've worked hard...

Trying to make my first few pages page-turners…

And then once again…

Insecurity whispered in my ear.

“See? You’re really not writer. Who do you think you are?”

But before I could refute—Whooosh!

My mind retreated to the Place of Numb…

Safe, non-emotional numb.

The next day…

My body took my mind back to Ohio..

For a visit with family—yay!

And doing taxes—yuck!

Then last week, my body took my mind…

Back to my beloved Akumal, Mexico…

Where I attended a week-long Awakening Seminar…

Featuring:

Alberto Villoldod, Gregg Braden, and Don Miguel Ruiz…

OMG!

My mind eagerly came out of hiding…

Because not only did the words of these men energize me…

But they also gave me perspective and vision...

And now my mind is in a good positive place.

So?

Do you know any of the three men above?

Do you know the Place of Numb?

Or have you learned to bitch slap your insecurity?

Always, Em-Musing

PEDAL TO THE METTLE

Since moving here to Akumal…

I’ve been going to a gym to work out.

Yesterday…

I got on a stationary bike…

Thinking it would be fun to just pedal.

So I get on the bike…

And the readout on the screen said…

What is your goal?

Really?

This bike wants to know…

What my goal is?

For a moment I freaked thinking…

Is this bike questioning me on my submissions?

(I’m still sending them out, btw)

And then I realized, haha…

The goal was for the workout.

Goal? I had no goal…

Hell, I just wanted to pedal for fun…

But it didn’t matter. 
I still had to determine if my goal was:

Distance….

Time…

Or speed…

And then the bike would tell me…

How many calories I burned.

Well, that got me thinking…

Of writing goals. So if:

All my efforts (burning calories)= a finished manuscript…

Than I need to determine…

What method works best for me:

Time = how many hours a day I write

Speed = how fast I can write

Distance= my world count

After awhile I realized…

Because of all the calculations...

I wasn't enjoying my pedaling...

So I shut the damn screen off…

And just pedaled for the joy of it.

And that’s how I feel about my writing.

I write first the joy,..

Yet with a specific goal in mind.

So? What about you?

When you sit down to write...

What comes first?

The joy?

Or the goal?

Always, Em-Musing

MOONED

Since I’ve moved here to Akumal, Mexico…

I’ve been fascinated with all things Maya…

Like their calendar…

(I won’t go into predictions here. I'll save them for later)

The ancient Mayan calendar had 13 months...

And this is how they figured it:

By the time it takes the earth…

To circle the sun once...

The moon will have circled the earth 13 times.

Hence a 13 month calendar.

I think this makes more sense…

Than a 12 month calendar…

Originated first by the Egyptians…

Than the Greeks…

And finally from the Romans...

So?

If there was a 13^th month…

And you got to name it…

What would it be?

And what astrological symbol…

Would you give it and why?

Always, Em-Musing

P.S. Seems Friday’s full moon was NOT in my favor for my building permit *GASP* 

And by the time my brain circled around the figures, a full day went by.

But there's hope. I'll keep you posted.

RADISHES IN MY SOUP

A lot to learn…

In this Mexican culture & cuisine…

Like…

They put radishes in soup…

Pozoli actually. A soup made from hominy.

(it’s delish)

And water flows many places here…

Not just in el Carib…

O lagunas…

Y cenotes…

Oh, no….

Water flows ‘under the table’…

Meaning...

“If you want this building permit…

You have to pay...

‘Water under the table’.”

Really? Are you kidding?

Wish I was.

(I actually, snickered when I first heard this term. Not anymore)

It’s a process that’s been going on…

Since the time of the Spanish conquest…

So I’m told by everyone who’s built here…

And my son-in-law, the attorney…

Who studied international law.

‘Water under the table'? PUH!...

It’s extortion, as far as I’m concerned…

Or mordida in Spanish…

And no one can claim immunity.

So…

Just like I have to acclimate to the heat here….

I’m gonna have to adjust to how business is done.

Fine! I’ll pay…

But please don’t ask me to like it. Or smile at you.

(perhaps that’s where the term ‘ugly American’ came from?)

Well, today I find out…

Just how much water/dinero...

Will flow ‘under the table'.

Oh, and don't know if this is good or bad...

But it’s also a full moon today…

And if la luna affects water…

Wonder how la luna will affect…

This watery transaction of mine?

So please, if you would be so kind…

Wish me…

‘Fair winds and Following seas’. 

Always, Em-Musing

SUN BALANCE

First today…

I’d like to thank my new followers…

However, I can’t see all of you…

My “follower” count increased…

But not the pics of new people. Hmm?

Second, thanks for the input on my blog color…

I guess I’m keeping the gray for new.

Yesterday, staring at my computer screen…

Analyzing why I’m fond of the gray now…

I got one of those ‘ah ha!’ kind of moments.

When I lived in Ohio…

Where it was cloudy gray most of the time…

The sunny yellow background made me happy.

Now that I’m living in sunny Mexico…

I’m more fond of the cloudy gray background.

Is this because I’m sweating like a pig more now?

And the color of gray makes me feel cooler?

Is this called yin and yang?

A balance, so to speak?

I have no idea…

Do you?

Always, Em-Musing

SHADES OF ME

Quick question...

Back in February I made my blog go dark…

(yellow to gray)

To allow myself time to hammer out submissions…

But now that I’m back blogging…

I don’t know if I want to switch my blog...

Back to yellow.

So?

My question to ya’ll is…

(and I really really need your input)

Which background color do you like? 

Or is easier to read?

Yellow?

Or…

Gray?

Gracias.

Always, Em-Musing

DREAM JOB

Job Opening:
In order to do this job…

You must perform certain tasks:

1) Sit, relax and read as often as you can

2) Watch lots of movies for research

3) Eavesdrop on people’s conversations 

   to understand human behavior

4) Sit and stare into space

   till creative thoughts and images emerge

OMG!

Is this a dream job or what?

Oh, wait. You want to get paid?

HA!

Well, this position is for writers...

And if you're expecting compensation...

In the form of moulah....

You may have to wait a very long time...

But in the meantime please feel free to...

Dream on!

So?

Did I miss any requirements?

Always, Em-Musing

P.S. Short post today. 

     Working on more submissions

CALLUS INCARNATE

Reincarnation…

I wasn’t sure if I believed in it or not…

But I now have proof.

The other day while getting a pedicure…

OK, I know you're saying. "Who cares?"

But please hear me out.

So, there my feet were soaking in the water…

The technician takes one of my feet out…

And starts scraping a huge callus, when…

“Yeeeesh!” escapes her mouth.

The universal sound for OMG! Disgusting!

A few other technicians scurry over…

And look at the pile of callus debris...

Their lips curled back in disgust.

“What do you do?” the English speaking techi asked.

“I’m a writer. I work at home.”

The techi interprets…

The four then huddled...

Whispering and shaking their heads…

And I can only imagine what they were saying…

“Writer? No! 

If she was, there’d be calluses on her fingers.”

“Ay! Looks like she plowed a field—with her feet!”

“Or ran with the bulls at Paploma—barefooted!”

They snickered then looked back at me with…

Dare I say…

A look that made me feel worse than pond scum…

I felt like—callus scum!

And that’s when I knew…

These calluses didn’t come from this life…

OK, I do go around barefoot most of the time…

But not enough to cause those mountains of dead cells

But rather my calluses are an accumulation…

From many previous lives…

When I probably did plow fields with my feet…

Or did walk across a frozen tundra barefoot.

So, can I help it if I have ugly callused feet, right.

So?

Do you believe in reincarnation?

If you don't why?

And if you do…

Do you have proof like I do?

Always, Em-Musing

ODD ADDICTION

I went with some friends to a casino last night…

I’m not much of a gambler…

But it was something to do.

I mean I can’t send queries 24/7.

As I walked in…

Colorful animated graphics dazzled my eyes..

Exciting electronic sounds filled the air…

People mesmerized…

Sat in front of slot machines anticipating.

Wow, I thought, they’re intense, focused.

Is this merely fun for them?

Or is it an addiction?

This morning…

After only 4 hours of sleep

I couldn’t wait to get up and get the day going.

I booted up my computer…

Watched colorful graphics pop up on my screen…

Turned on my favorite Internet radio station…

And began writing this post…

Then, anticipating, I checked my email inbox.

And that’s when it occurred to me…

Sitting in front of my computer…

Throwing in time instead of money…

And anticipating a payoff…

Did an agent request a partial?

Or a full?

Will they want to represent me?

When will I get published?

And what about my blog?

Did anyone respond to yesterday’s post?

Would I get another follower?

Is like gambling, no?

And when I said my blog was going dark…

I got withdrawal symptoms.

Because I can NOT stay away…

And that’s called withdrawal symptoms, no?

Which means I have a blogging addiction, yes?

So?

Am I the only one?

Would you call your writing/blogging an addiction?

And do you ever feel like a gambler...

Betting in a publishing casino...

Even though you know the odds are against you?

Always, Em-Musing

A PENNYWISE FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

Well…

The queries are still going out…

And I was feeling mighty confident until…

I stumbled upon the agent…

Who represents Stephen King.

(I love Stephen King)

As I stared at his book, 11/22/63 on their website…

I felt humbled…

And then…

From the recesses of my brain…

I could almost hear Pennywise…

The wisecracking clown from It…

Taunting me from his sewer grate...

”So you think you’re worthy?

This agent represents the “King”…

Do you really think...

your humorous women’s fiction…

Is worthy of being on a bookshelf with him?”

“Well, I think….I mean…uh…well…

And before I could analyze any further…

My computer hit the ‘send’ button and off it went.

“Huh?”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake!" My computer glowered...

"you don’t need to analyze this.”

“But I wasn’t ready!”

“Yes, yes you are. You’ve been ready... 

Quit being such a wuss. And quit comparing.

No, you're not King, but you're You...

And You is good."

So?

When you submit/submitted…

Are there some agents…

That intimidate you more?

Or are they all intimidating no matter what?”

Always, Em-Musing