I drew another superhero from my Advent Calendar stash of Marvel superheroes to give me inspiration for the week. This time, it’s the IRON FIST!  He’s an honorable superhero. No gray areas. He derives his power from his chi, spiritual energies. He’s the world’s greatest martial artist and uses that iron fist as a weapon or for healing—and that’s how I’ll tie this cute little guy to my week. I have a meeting with my oncologist tomorrow, so I’ll go in with this guy in my pocket to talk about next steps. 🙂

Report Card

Last week…

1. 1. Did you notice I’m back to blogging every day? Yeah, that probably doesn’t mean much to you, but it means I’m putting my fingers on the keyboard and writing…something. It’s all good progress!
   2. I worked on one author’s edits.
   3. I issued an extension to authors interested in contributing to my next anthology, Burn.
   4. I had a blood draw in preparation for my appointment with my oncologist. My Cancer Antigen test results have improved again. A good sign. Not foolproof, but encouraging.
   5. I spent a lot of the week resting. I move slowly, but the incision from my surgery is healing nicely. I can get in and out of bed without straining anything. I wish I could move around as much as I sleep.
   6. I’ve been painting up a storm—usually in the middle of the night when insomnia hits for a couple of hours. Rather than fight it, I use the time to get paint on paper.

This next week…

1. I will complete one author’s edits and begin work on two more projects! I’m almost back to my previous editing pace.
2. I’ll meet with my oncologist on Monday to review my surgery results and plan what’s next for me. I want to get everything scheduled (chemo/immunotherapy) so I can plan my work accordingly.
3. I’ll continue trying to catch up to #thedayproject schedule. Surgery and recovery put me behind, but I’m really liking the push it gives me to produce.
4. I’m going to putter in the kitchen this week. I do love cooking pasta and making my own tuna salad. Plus, it will keep me on my feet.

Open Contests

Be sure to check out these posts and enter to win the prizes that are still up for grabs:

1. 1. Gabbi Grey: I Wanted Taylor Swift! (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
   2. Saturday Puzzle-Contest — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
   3. Gabbi Grey: Trying Something a Little New… (Contest–Two Prizes!) — Win a FREE book plus an Amazon gift card!
   4. Memory Game: My Paintings (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
   5. Flashback: Her Next Breath (Contest — Two Winners!) — Win a FREE book, 2 winners!
   6. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Wildflowers — Win an Amazon gift card!

First, Happy Easter from my house to yours!

Next, remember when my dd gifted me with mini-Marvel superheroes for my advent calendar at Christmas?

Well, before I started to put together my report card for today, I decided to pull a figure from my bucket rather than pull a tarot card, just to get the right mindset for the coming week. I pulled this guy:

He’s The Punisher. Not a true-blue hero at all; however, he does have redeeming qualities. He takes out the bad guys. No mercy. So, I’m going to borrow some of his balls-to-the-wall determination this week and slay my calendar! 🙂

Report Card

Since April 1st…

1. I’ve done nothing. Nada. Zilch. Of course, I have the best excuse in the world. I am currently recovering from major surgery—and kicking ass while doing it. 🙂

This next week…

1. I will return to work, editing two projects for other authors!
2. I’ll issue an extension to authors interested in writing a short story for the Burn collection. Folks may have been waiting to see if I kicked the bucket before submitting their work. LOL
3. I’ll be reviewing short stories I’ve published and picking some to put together into a second Ultra collection. I need to get something published, and I do have some hot stories that haven’t appeared in a set or in print yet…
4. I’ll contact my oncologist’s office to make an appointment to set up more appointments so I can get them hard-scheduled in my work plan!
5. I’ll begin painting again. Small things, only. I want to continue work on #the100dayproject, even though I’m dragging far behind the rest of the participants.

Open Contests

Be sure to check out these posts and enter to win the prizes that are still up for grabs:

1. 1. Meet Author Kaje Harper! Complete Short Story Here! Plus, FREE Reads! — Read an entire short story, plus pick up FREE reads!
   2. Gabbi Grey/Gabbi Powell/Gabbi Black: Why I Can’t Stay in My Lane (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
   3. Gabbi Grey: I Wanted Taylor Swift! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
   4. Saturday Puzzle-Contest — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Dana Zamora!
*~*~*

March

Work-related:

1. I didn’t write a single word in all of March. I really didn’t intend to. I had too much on my mind.
2. I completed 5 editing projects for other authors in March!

Health-related:

1. I had an immunotherapy appointment. Such a breeze after chemo!
2. Otherwise, I pushed my health and my stats completely out of my mind. I didn’t need the stress!

Happiness-related: 

1. I attended my art guild’s meeting this month for a Show & Tell of what we’ve all been working on. It was really nice!
2. I painted every day until this last week as part of #the100dayproject. Here are a few small pieces I completed:

April

1. To complete 1 or 2 editing projects in April, but not beginning them until mid-month to give myself time to recover.

For health-related, I plan:

1. To undergo a radical hysterectomy, plus a couple of other organs on the 1st!
2. To undergo immunotherapy whenever my oncologist says I’m ready for more.
3. To rest and recover!

For happiness-related, I plan: 

1. To spend time with the family while I recover from surgery. I’ll be in the living room in a lift chair for quite a while. I’ll be impossible to ignore. LOL.
2. To continue the #100dayproject when I’m ready.

Contest

Comment on anything you’ve read in this post. Tell me what you’re doing to make yourself happier and healthier, or tell me what you plan to read in April…

Like I said, comment on anything for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

See you later!

I won’t be posting again until I feel well enough to do so. I do have some guests lined up to post while I’m away. Please be sure to stop in and tell them hello and thank them for picking up the slack for me! Until then, I hope you all stay safe and find happiness in all the little things. Love, DD

Report Card

Last week…

1. I worked my butt off on two editing projects I have to complete before my surgery on Tuesday! I’m almost there. I hope to finish both today!
2. I worked on getting caught up on some administrivia to get ready for my upcoming surgery and recovery.
3. I paused the #100daychallenge. I’ll resume the challenge when I’ve recovered enough to want to sit and paint. I’m hoping that will be mid-April, but I might be dreaming.
4. I went flea-market shopping with the girls. It’s a small thing, but something we all love to do. We like finding our random treasures. I found a white enamel covered box, rectangular, and I have no clue how I’ll use it just yet, but I love enamel, so I had to have it. When I’m recovered, I’ll figure out where it “belongs.”

This next week…

1. I will complete two sets of author’s edits today (I hope). One author still owes me her last pages (You know who you are! LOL)!
2. I have more administrative things to do today and tomorrow morning to “get my affairs in order” before surgery.
3. I need to make sure all my passwords still work on my phone and laptop because I won’t be going near my desktop for a month!
4. I have to pay all the monthly bills tomorrow so that won’t be lingering over my head as I recover.
5. Tuesday is the big day! All my girlie parts, plus a few others, are going bye-bye-bye!

Open Contests

Be sure to check out these posts and enter to win the prizes that are still up for grabs:

1. 1. Gabbi Grey: How I figure out what comes next! (FREE Read + Contest) — Last day to enter! Get your FREE read, plus enter to win another FREE story!
   2. Get your FREE read! WITH HIS ROCK BAND! — This offer ends Tuesday! Pick up your FREE read. This is a limited time offer!
   3. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Welcome Spring! — Win an Amazon gift card!
   4. Anna Taylor Sweringen/Michal Scott: Eliza Potter — Hairdresser, Social Critic, and Myth Buster (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
   5. Word Search: Favorite Book Hero Jobs (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
   6. Tell Me a Story… (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
   7. Saturday Puzzle-Contest — Favorite Fast Food — Win an Amazon gift card!

Just a quick note. I’ll go into surgery sometime on Tuesday. I’ll have guests on the blog, but there won’t be daily posts until I feel well enough to sit at my desk, so closing out current contests may lag. Also, I won’t be here to share my guests’ posts. If you can, please share them on your social media to help get out the word for them.  

Report Card

Last week…

1. I completed one author’s edits and began two new projects!
2. I worked on getting caught up on some administrivia to get ready for my upcoming surgery and recovery. I’m soooo easily distracted I didn’t get far.
3. I attended a meeting of the local art group. It was nice to see friends.
4. I’ve been painting every day as part of #the100dayproject.

This next week…

1. I will complete two sets of author’s edits.
2. I have more administrative things to do this week to “get my affairs in order” before surgery.
3. I’ll continue working on #the100dayproject, but only if I have time. At some point, I’m going to have to pause and resume after the surgery.

Open Contests

Be sure to check out these posts and enter to win the prizes that are still up for grabs:

1. 1. The Key to Happiness (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
   2. Happy Alfred Hitchcock Day! (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
   3. It’s Jewel Day! (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
   4. Flashback: Fun with Dick and Jane (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win a FREE book!
   5. Happy St. Patrick’s Day & 5 Ways to Celebrate (Contest)! — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
   6. Memory Game: Animals to Write About (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
   7. Gabbi Grey: How I figure out what comes next! (FREE Read + Contest) — Get your FREE read, plus enter to win another FREE story!
   8. Get your FREE read! WITH HIS ROCK BAND! — Pick up your FREE read. This is a limited time offer!
   9. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Welcome Spring! — Win an Amazon gift card!

Report Card

Last week…

1. I sent out a notice to authors that I need to line up next quarter’s authors. Thank you to those who responded. I still have openings!
2. I completed one author’s edits and began the next project! Woot!
3. I’ve given up on completing Ignition before my surgery at the end of the month. I’m just too busy with edits and administrative things… 🙁
4. I’ve been painting every day as part of #the100dayproject. I had particular fun painting on my “smush” cards. You have to have been following my FB friend page to know what those are. LOL! Anyway, I had fun!

This next week…

1. I will complete one author’s edits and begin the next set of edits this week.
2. I have more administrative things to do this week to “get my affairs in order” before surgery.
3. I’m attending a local political gathering this week. As an older person and a veteran—and the grandmother of a child with special needs—I have to let my concerns be known.
4. I’ll continue working on #the100dayproject.
5. If I have time, I will work on putting together another Ultra collection of my short stories for publication. No promises, though.

Open Contests

Be sure to check out these posts and enter to win the prizes that are still up for grabs:

1. 1. Learn What Your Name Means Day (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
   2. Word Search: First Signs of Spring (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win a FREE book!
   3. Flashback: Baby, It’s You (Contest–2 Winners!) — This one ends soon! Win a FREE book!
   4. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Nostalgia in Old Photos + Open Contests! — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
   5. Gabbi Black: Writing to a Cover (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win a FREE book!
   6. The Key to Happiness (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
   7. Happy Alfred Hitchcock Day! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
   8. It’s Jewel Day! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
   9. Flashback: Fun with Dick and Jane (Contest) — Win a FREE book!

Report Card

Last week…

1. I completed one author’s edits! Yay!
2. I’ve continued some light exercises.
3. I’ve been painting every day as part of #the100dayproject—and I’m liking my latest efforts.

This next week…

1. I will have one author’s edits to begin work on. I’d like to get halfway through it.
2. I’ll send out a notice to authors to see who might like to blog on my website, April through June—since I plan to still be here!
3. I’ll return my attention to Ignition, because I really, really want to finish it before April 1st!
4. I have administrative things to do this week to “get my affairs in order” before surgery.
5. I’ll continue working on #the100dayproject.

Update

This month, I’m busy trying to get ready for my surgery that’s happening on April 1st. I have lots of little things to handle before the big day—making sure my daughter knows where my important papers are, making sure she knows who to contact should something go wrong, leaving breadcrumbs for her to find her way through my computer and files. I’ve had this computer for a number of years, and it has little idiosyncrasies that might drive a person who isn’t familiar with it crazy.

I’ve had interesting conversations with the girls—who gets my bedroom, office, and craft room when I’m gone. The 16-year-old has dibs, and she’s said my bedroom will remain the same because she loves all my “junk,” and the office will become her gaming room, AND she won’t let her mom ditch all my craft and art supplies in the art room because she wants to putter in there with all those “treasures.” We laughed about it. And we all talk often about what happens when I’m gone. Getting them used to the idea helps with the grief. We had a long time taking care of grandma, my father, and my mother to get used to the idea of their passing. It helped to talk about a future without them. Yes, their deaths were still devastating, but the sting was somewhat muted because we’d prepared ourselves emotionally. NOT THAT I DON’T FULLY EXPECT TO MAKE IT THROUGH MY SURGERY! I do! Still…

Can I bitch about a little thing and not seem silly? My hair is beginning to grow back in—and my, oh my is it ever gray (well, more silver than gray). And, it’s growing faster at the bottom than the top of my head, which looks very weird. I joke that I look like Ludwig Von Drake. I’ll still be in hats through the summer!

Now that I’m just doing immunotherapy infusions, the chemo-devastation has subsided. My foot neuropathy is still there as is my slightly blurred vision, but I can make it through the day without taking a nap, although I do shut down working in the early afternoon and head to my recliner to watch some TV. I’m still building stamina—which will take another big hit after the 1st.  I’m so not looking forward to the recovery, but I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure the 16-year-old doesn’t get her mitts on my art supplies just yet. 🙂