Monday Madness

I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July. We did. We missed the parade but the fireworks were amazing. It was so worth letting the kids stay up late.



On my WIP: I promise I'd try to write a 1000 words a day, yet there are days when my characters and I aren't on the same page and all I write is crap. Today is one of those days. Hope things pick up tomorrow.




I've DH's older cousin visiting (same grandfather different grandmothers). Actually, he's on a cross-country tour of the country. This is his third stop. I don't mind too much the extra work that comes with taking care of an older gentleman because he's so interesting. Not only was he involved in the Civil Rights movement, he was a journalist in those days, traveled all over the world, even to Kenya. Listening to him talk about CV marches and interviewing some of iconic figures is humbling. Even as a foreigner, I know I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the people who worked tirelessly to bring changes in this great country.

Anyway, back to seeing if I can write s'mthing.

Happy Friday

Hope you guys have fabulous plans for the weekend.

My Kenyan WIP is coming along nicely. I'm about one third way through, yeah! I hope I get it done by end of August.

My girls are coming home from the iD-Tech camp (UC Berkeley) tonight. Amazing how the week zipped by fast. While they sent me text messages 2-3 times a day when they were in Michigan, I got zip from them from Cali. I finally gave in and called them. They were having a blast. My high schooler decided she'll include UC Berkeley on the list of colleges she plans to apply to next year.

My August vacation is getting closer each day. Did I tell you ladies I'm taking off for a week, no DH or kids, just me, my niece and my laptop for a whole week. I found a wonderful resort outside Atlanta, have everything you can think of--horseback riding, golf, artificial beach, museum with lots of American history, wonderful gardens and restuarants...oh, and my favorite, a spa (sigh). Will tell you more later. Enjoy a few pictures from Barnsley Resort.

Bella

Thank you, Michael

As the world mourns the death of an iconic figure, I find myself remembering the old days when I danced to his songs in a small town in the middle of Africa.

I'm first to admit he wasn't my favorite when they were Jackson Five. While my friends went ga-ga over Marlon, I thought Jermaine was the hottest guy in the whole world. There was something very regal about his bearing. But the talented Michael couldn’t be ignored. By high school, I was a fan, watching his videos religiously, copying his dance moves…even taught his moves to other girls at high school, lol.

So two days ago, out of the blue, I got a call from a girl I knew in high school and college (University of Nairobi,main campus, left, and the library, right).

She tracked me down after she heard of Michael’s death, knew I’d be mourning with the rest of them. Don’t ask me how she found me after twenty odd years, but modern technology is such an amazing thing.

So thank you, Michael. Because of you, I’ve reconnected with a friend from high school and will soon get in touch with the others (Go Ngandu Girls, class of ’95, A-levels). Maybe you rest in peace now.

That Time of the Year, again.

End of school year and beginning of summer is a crazy time for my family. Dance review is here...photo day, dance rehearsal day, dress rehearsal day, followed by two nights of performances...sigh. If it sounds endless, believe me, it is.

I won't be able to write jack until this is done...another sigh.

My two at swim camp are hating it...expected it (evil chuckle). They text me two to three times a day to complain about food, the dorm(I think they expected a hotel-like accommodation), too much swimming (it's a swim camp, duh?)....

Don't point fingers and call me a bad mother. My text messages are very enouraging and supportive but on the inside I'm, like, mua-ha-ha-ha-ha... They must learn to get outside their comfort zones, suffer through things, and this is such a prefect opportunity.

Summer's here

Summer is here, yeah!!
Imagine kids lazing about or hanging out with friends, riding their bikes outside, playing in the backyard or in the pool...generally entertaining themselves. Utopia, right?


Wrong! Summer means driving children to camps that don't last longer than three hours, staying in the pool until your eyes hurt from too much chlorine, trips to the zoo or the park under sweltering heat...sigh.
I love my kids, I trully do, love spending quality time with them but I hate summers.



This year, my oldest two are off to a swim camp for two weeks. Are they thrilled about it? Nope. They hate us now but maybe someday they'll thank us, I hope. But, they will be together, away from their bratty younger siblings (their words not ours) and they'll get some first-class coaching from NCAA coaches (our bargaining chip, not that they care...kids).




Then they're off to an iD-Tech camp on computer programming/film and animation/gaming. Since they're both into art and computer graphics, they're looking forward to this. We had to sweeten the swim camp with something, right? But the tech camp is totallyworth it. Kids who've attended them rave about them. Click the above link and find out more.





Maybe this summer won't be so bad.

TRX

I don't know about you guys but I'm one of those pple who go nuts if they don't workout. I use elliptical, Treadmill, run during good weather and lift weights. My weight and bust don't seem to change but I keep going down in dress size...uh, pants size. I thought I was getting the total workout...until I did TRX.









TRX uses harnesses for suspension excercises. Stretches, push-ups , lunges...moves I could never do all done with these harnesses. What a workout!! On Monday I went to the class. For two days every muscles in my body hurt. I couldn't go up or down the stairs without wincing and holding on to the rail, my stomach muscles hurt, my upper back...did I mention I've been using weights and weight machines for years? I felt like someone who'd not worked out in months.








Since it works the core muscles, it's great if you have back problems. The moves are also great for swimmers, golfers and archers...some of the moves imitate these sports. Most of the guys in my class are men in their 50s and 60s. The instructor is trying to drum up support for TRX so our gym can buy more harnesses and I'm all for it. Needless to say, I went back yesterday and will continue going twice a week when she comes back from vacation.



Here's J.Lo doing the extreme moves...don't think I'll ever get to that level, lol.








What workout regime works for you??

Mood: Upbeat.

Rejections galore

The agent that requested my YA fantasy just rejected it. Why? She said the story dragged. Since it's 90,000 words, I gues I could slice and dice it. On the hand, it's always something with these people, isn't it? I refused to give up though. Love those characters to death. Will start subbing via slow mail once I'm done licking my wounds.

Meanwhile I'm back writing romance. This one is based in Kenya, my home country. Am I thrilled? You betcha! I'm going to be a pioneer, a trailblazer of the genre, yaa-hooo! The editor of a major publishing house gave me the go-ahead, so we'll see. I hope my critique partners enjoy it.

Bella

(aka Ednah, future YA author!)