With thanks...
FEBRUARY 2009
I am grateful for the cute ducklings in our park, book sales and the festival of gratitude...
With thanks... February 1...
Today I am grateful for the cute morning Cute Husbee and I had before he went to work - we returned to the park with the tiny baby ducks, and had a picnic under a big old beautiful tree, and watched them paddle around, being fed bread by their mums (and quite fierce they were too - a giant eel went for some of the bread I threw them, and the mama duck pecked at it ferociously! Amazing!)...
I am grateful that the bruises and swelling from yesterday aren't TOO bad, and I managed to walk to Broadway and back, then Newtown and back, with only a bit of pain in my toes.
I am grateful for good friends and good conversation, and being able to take one of my best buds out for his birthday...
I am grateful that we smiled at the crescent moon and it smiled back :-)
I am grateful that my distribution deal starts today - and I just received a January statement saying I've already sold 10...
Charmaine: Serene I do love your posts – you are such an amazing radiant person – i could take lessons off you in much patience – I am reading your book still and am loving it – I wish my eyes would stay open a little longer though – the days are so long – however you have enocouraged me to lay down nearly 8000 words last week Back to readings this week and then I should be just about finished Book 2 – You are an inspiration for me. Thank you! xx
With thanks... February 2...
Today is Lughnasadh, the first day of autumn and the first harvest festival, a day of celebrating the things we have metaphorically harvested, the things we've achieved, the gifts we've received, the experiences we've had, the talents we've developed and the things we've learned...
In a big picture way I am grateful for the lessons of the last year, for the courage I found to break my publishing contract and release my book myself, for the skills I learned (and am still learning!) about design, marketing, printing, promotion... and those I am still to learn. I am grateful for the beautiful friends who helped me and encouraged me and supported me and gave me a shoulder to cry on when it all felt too much and who let me rage in frustration when it all got too hard... and who celebrated my success with me and were proud when I got it done...
I am grateful for my friends, my family, my beautiful husband, and also for those I have struggled with who have helped me learn much about myself.
Today I am grateful for a day at work with Martine, for her health, for her kindness... I am grateful for Cute Husbee meeting me after work so we could visit the ducklings again (they grow bigger by the day!) and walk home together as the sun set. I am grateful to all those who let me know how much my book has inspired them (thank you Charmaine!). I am grateful to Anita for passing on info on children's book illustrators. I am grateful to Jo at Spheres for appointing me Sacred Sites Advisor :-) To old friends for getting in touch (hi Sarah!), and other friends for staying in touch.
I am so grateful for the blessings in my life, which is why I'm making an additional donation today to Plan, who I sponsor a child through, so they can help those who are suffering a little more... That's what Lughnasadh means to me - expressing my gratitude in a tangible way so the energy of abundance can continue and strengthen... (www.plan.org.au in case anyone's interested :-)
With thanks... February 3...
Today I am grateful for my Cutes, who surprised me by turning up at the station again so we could walk home together. This being parted by work is driving us crazy though - it's going to be a month with not a single day off together. I am grateful that we make the most of the moments we have though...
And I am grateful that another bookstore in Perth sold out of my book and made another order. And the English magazine loved my story... And that it's time for bed. So sleepy...
With thanks... February 4...
I am grateful for all the beautiful comments on the Blissing Wall. It really does make you see things in a different, more magical light. Sometimes we need to be reminded a little...
I am grateful to my sister's sweet mother-in-law, who's delivering more books to a Perth shop for me. Thanks Jenny!
I am grateful for a fun night with Cute Husbee and a good friend, for fresh vegies and tofu, for chai and good, challenging conversation...
I am grateful that there are people in this world who put their lives on the line and sacrifice everything to fight for people's basic human rights, and to give others hope when it seems there is none. RIP Harvey Milk...
With thanks... February 5...
Today I am grateful for blue skies and sunshine - and the cool breezes of our fan...
I am grateful that the massive spidie appeared in the car while we were stopped, and Pete managed to get it outside...
I am grateful for a tax reduction on this quarter's amount due (thank goddess, given my lack of work situation!)...
I am grateful for Lucy's company, cups of tea, yummy ginger biscuits, loud laughter, inspiring and being inspired, supportive girlfriends and the relief of shared experiences...
And I am grateful for a day without a migraine...
With thanks... February 6...
Today I am grateful for watermelon and fans, and airconditioning in the borrowed car :-)
I am grateful to people who dedicate their lives to their passion, and to helping others and making a stand, from Charles Darwin to Harvey Milk to Paul Watson to Bono...
It's killing me that Cute Husbee's "weekend" is the two days a week I'm in the office, but I am grateful that we grab every moment together, and this awful apart will soon be over...
And I am grateful for my beautiful friend Ange, and our long conversations that trip from deep and awful and uplifting to hilariously funny and everywhere in between. I'll miss you Sweet One!
WITH THANKS... February 7...
It's 3.30am, so I am grateful to be home and about to go to bed!
But I am grateful that I could share in Cute Husbee's fun tonight, and support him in his dreams, as his band played. (And we even managed to visit the ducklings, because the venue was across the road from their pond!)
I am grateful that while I procrastinated a little today, I did actually get some writing done. (And I also scribbled lots of notes in my tiny notebook at the gig, while Cutes was setting up and loading out...)
And I'm grateful that I managed to create another web page (how funny, reading back over this as I load it onto my real website - I must have done an Author Tree page, from a template)...
And that although it was a crazy day, and we had to be at the gig early, Cutes and I managed to sneak in a little snuggling on the couch - and a Law & Order - between him getting home from work and me having to do his hair and make-up and leave for the venue...
And I'm probably a bit delirious (too much soda water and rock'n'roll!), and half asleep, but I am grateful for my sweet friends, and especially to Anita for watering my fairy garden :-)
With thanks... February 8...
It was a bit of a procrastination-filled day, but I am grateful that I did SOME writing...
And that it is all unfolding in my head, if not on paper...
That I can write tomorrow, in my little purple office, rather than being at a magazine...
That the coming week is the last one that my love and I have NO days off together...
That the moon is so beautiful in its almost full state, shining down on us and making me smile...
That Cutes and I managed to steal an hour together between our rock'n'roll guests leaving and him having to go to work...
With thanks... February 10...
Today I am grateful for the full moon energy, despite it seeming to miss me for the most part...
I am grateful for the few hours Cutes and I managed together (this "no days off together" phase is making me crazy!)...
I am grateful that even though I don't feel like anything particularly good happened today, I can make jokes about it and laugh at my misery :-)
(Today was my second last day at New Idea, but the farewell lunch was postponed because we got too busy. Which is pretty funny...)
I am grateful for my friend Anita's amazingly productive creativity, and am hoping it will rub off on me soon...
And I guess I should be grateful for my perseverance - last night's the only time I've missed posting my little note...
With thanks... February 11...
Today I am grateful for the cooling rains and the slight chill in the air as my love and I walked home from Glebe under the beautiful almost-full moon.
For interesting events at Gleebooks (author Dorothy Rowe, a fascinating woman who I knew next to nothing about)...
For my friend who's already sending me freelancing info (thanks Nigie!)...
For my last day at New Idea, and the fond farewells from lovely people. Sadly we were too busy with a crazy deadline on a special project to have the planned farewell lunch, but that's okay :-)
For a new order of a hundred books from my distributor. Funnily enough, I'd just checked my post box and pouted that no-one wanted to buy my book, so getting an order for a hundred copies when I turned on the computer was a nice end to the day :-)
With thanks... February 12...
Today I am grateful that from now on, Cutes and I will get a day off together each week as our rosters have re-aligned...
I am grateful that I had a day at home so I could book a pick-up for the 100 books and reply to emails inbetween (sporadically) writing...
I am grateful that the new U2 album will be out soon, and that the first single rocks...
I am grateful that I have Margie and Pete's car for a few weeks, and I could pick up Cutes after work, as it was sprinkling with rain...
I am grateful for the cooling rain...
I am grateful to Anita for the cute fairy-mushroom photo, to my little ducklings - which are actually swamp hens, go figure! - for making me smile, and to the herbs in their cute pots on my balcony that make me happy when I water them...
And I am grateful to Charles Darwin for pursuing his dream, and continuing in the face of massive opposition and threats of violence, because he changed the world a little. Happy Birthday!
With thanks... February 13...
Today I am grateful for my Precious Bee-loved/Cute Husbee, and our Valentine's Eve celebrations snuggled up on the couch as the rain fell outside and we exchanged cards and gifts and dreamed of a holiday far away, alone together, where we wouldn't think of work or bands or books or family or stresses.
And I am grateful for the moments like that that we do find together, amongst all that chaos :-)
With thanks... February 14...
Today I am grateful (as I am every day) for my Cute Husbee and our Paradisical Realm...
I am grateful that, although he had to work until midnight, we made full use of our morning, and had a beautiful time, snuggled up while it rained outside...
I am grateful that he loved all the cards I gave him to take with him and help him get though work, opening one every hour, and that the tiny ladybirds on the envelopes made him smile...
I am grateful that the little herbs on my balcony got a little watering (and my fairy garden was visited by friends)...
I am grateful for vanilla tea by the mugful...
And I am grateful that I did a lot of writing today, and only a little procrastination :-)
With thanks... February 15...
Today I am grateful for Charmed, cheesies and cuddles with Cutes on the couch (not to mention my brilliant alliteration!) before he had to go to work...
I am grateful that, while we still haven't had a day off together yet, we are physically together (I'm thinking of you Andrew and Sean!)...
I am grateful for the gorgeous Jessica Galbreth art mugs that were part of my Valentine's Day present, and beautiful art in general, and inspiring little gifts that encourage me to keep writing...
I am grateful that the pile of books in our warehouse/dining room is decreasing in size (I packaged up the hundred books for Brumby today)...
I am grateful that I wrote well (or at least lots) today, and that my new project is taking shape...
And I am grateful that Cutes will be home from work soon, and we can drink tea and chat about our days, and encourage each other to keep going with our dreams and ignore the pesky obstacles in our way...
With thanks... February 16...
Today I am grateful that tomorrow Cute Husbee and I finally get a day off together, after a month without!
I am grateful that Lucy called today to read me an email I'd sent her last April - saying that after staying up all night to get it finished, the meeting to hand over my manuscript had been cancelled - again - and I was drowning in frustration and furiousness. And yet look what it spurred me to achieve! Within five months I'd become a designer, an editor and a publisher, and put the book out myself. Sometimes you forget how much progress you're making when you just look at it day by day, but when you get a flashback like that it's amazing. And in fact, my second book will be done by the anniversary of that cancelled meeting, which is pretty cool :-)
I am also so grateful to my beautiful love, for supporting me and encouraging me and believing in me throughout this whole crazy adventure, and being so proud of me, and to my gorgeous friends, especially Lucy and Anita, for sharing this journey, and inspiring and encouraging and being so lovely.
And to think I thought I had nothing to say today :-)
With thanks... February 17...
Today I am grateful for chai tea and cute ducklings...
For making tacos with Cutes and watching Numbers (I love watching how his mind works!)...
For my funny chatty little nieces...
For writers and artists who inspire with their work...
For the Platinum Brunette CD...
For selling another book...
For being able to "buy" a cauldron pot for my fairy garden...
For (no offence, but...) how crappy most travel journals are...
For the pressure of a deadline that is making me buckle down and start writing madly and planning furiously... Funny how those words can mean productive and inspired as well as angry :-)
With thanks... February 18...
Today I am grateful for a day off with my love...
For pots of chai at our favourite cafe...
For cuddlenapping on the couch...
For a meeting with the printer to look at papers and formats - is it weird to find that exciting?
For the love, support and encouragement of my sweet love, who makes me feel better when I doubt myself and think my new project is silly...
For another book being bought by a library somewhere in Australia...
For dencorub for my sore shoulder (since I can't open the cute little pot of tiger balm Kelly brought me back)...
For cute plans for tomorrow...
With thanks... February 19...
Today I am grateful for a cute morning of chai tea and wandering through the city with my Cute Husbee before he had to work...
For cups of tea and conversation with a dear old friend and a sweet new one...
For an interesting talk by Alberto Villoldo, the shaman I interviewed for the Peru postcard...
For the sunshine and cool breeze as I walked home from the city...
For an afternoon and night of (mostly) hard work, with a little procrastination thrown in...
With thanks... February 20...
Where has the time gone?
Today I am thankful for strong cups of tea...
For progress on my project...
For people on the other side of the country who have heard of my book, and Anita for "encouraging" them to read it...
For Richard Dawkins and Charles Darwin, and other great thinkers who challenge perceptions at great personal risk...
For deep conversations about the state of the world with my love...
For new fairy friends who water my garden...
For all the reminders I'm getting that I should read The Secret Life of Bees :-)
With thanks... February 21...
Today I am grateful for a (semi) productive day - I guess procrastination is when the ideas bubble up in my mind and get stirred around, so they can eventually form into coherent thoughts :-)
I am grateful to Stephenie Meyer for posting her gorgeous novel Midnight Sun for her fans to read, after a friend accidentally leaked it onto the net. Twilight, from Edward's point of view. Lush and lyrical... and I need inspiration to encourage me, apparently :-)
I am grateful to Bif Naked for her blogs about how lucky she is, even as she endures chemo for breast cancer. I've loved her for 15 years as a singer, and now I admire her even more for her ability to find the beauty in each day and let her heart and soul shine so brightly. Plus her new song rocks!
And I am grateful to my beautiful love, for our cute morning together before we started work in the afternoon, and our ability to make the most of every precious second together...
With thanks... February 22...
Today I am grateful for the beautiful autumn leaves that are starting to appear on the trees in my street. They make me smile :-)
And I am grateful for the slightly cooler, crisper edge to the air, and relieved that the overwhelming heat of our summer might finally be settling down a tiny bit...
I am grateful that I got a bit written today, and that when I felt blocked I shifted focus and designed some pages. One thing I learned writing the first book was that some days the words just flow, and other times it's better to do some research or switch to planning or layout or something else...
Which makes me grateful for the lessons learned :-)
I am grateful that I sold a book to someone overseas, and intrigued by how they heard about it.
And I grateful that (as I was typing this), the proof for a story I wrote for a British mag arrived, and it looks really good!
With thanks... February 23...
Today I am grateful for my beautiful friend Angela, her sparkling conversation, her love of life and passion for the future - even though it means she will be further away - and her yummy chai...
I am grateful for my new sewing machine (thanks Ange!)...
I am grateful for a chapter unfolding, slow though it is!
I am grateful for the cute dinner I had with Cute Husbee in a cute cafe with big old-fashioned booths (I know, small things make me happy, like a little kid)...
I am grateful for my hoop, and for finally picking it up again and having a play :-)
With thanks... February 24...
Today I am grateful that my love walked into town with me on my way to work, so we had another hour together. Holding hands, chattering, planning, pouting as I had to leave him...
I was at the kids mags today, so I am grateful for bright colours and pretty pages and princesses and cute things, and big cups of chai...
I am grateful that Cutes met me after work at one of our favourite thai places, so we could eat tofu and vegies then wander home and be grateful for the genius of Boston Legal and the intrigue of NCIS...
And now I am grateful for a comfy bed...
With thanks... February 25...
Today I am grateful for a day off with my love...
I am grateful that, although the toes I smashed into the bath tub the other day are still black and weird and hurt a bit, they are okay...
I am grateful that I convinced myself to go to yoga this morning, after quite the inner debate, and that my toes, while hurting in all the warrior poses, coped...
I am grateful for my cute movie date with Cute Husbee (Ghost Town - very sweet/laugh out loud funny/tear to the eye sad/all at once)...
I am grateful that we visited the duck pond and it was so peaceful and calming and cute, and that there are two new baby ducklings, and they are tinier than any we have ever seen. They would fit in the palm of my hand, like tiny black chickens, if i could pick them up. I wish I could pat them, but watching them sitting in the reeds, paddling uncertainly over to Mum to be fed and collapsing so cutely into the water was balm for the soul enough :-)
I am... intrigued... that I have been called for jury duty AGAIN. I've already done it twice, and it was fascinating, but right now is not good timing. And I'm struggling to believe that me being called five times - and everyone I know not being called once - in the last decade is "random". Wish I could ask the guy from Numbers for an algorithm!
With thanks... February 26...
Today I am grateful for my beautiful friends...
For Lucy and Anita being so sweet and concerned over the message I got (I haven't called back yet, but I will!), and Peta and Shan for their lovely comments about my notes...
I am grateful for the new U2 album, which is amazing, and all the incredible work Bono does to help people around the world...
I am grateful for my lunch date with Cutes, and pots of chai tea, and another afternoon with the ducklings. This time we took raisin toast (the cake shop didn't have plain bread or even scones!), and they loved us as much as we loved them. It's amazing watching a pond and the life within it. The pecking order of those above and below the water. The beautiful jewel-coloured feathers of the actual ducks, and the bright red crowns of the swamp hens. The massive prehistoric looking goldfish and the mottled grey eels weaving beneath the pink waterlilies. (We've seen the swamp hens, though we love them dearly, peck a little viciously at ALL their fellow lake-dwellers at least once over the last few weeks. Today they went for one of the ducks when it tried to take some bread from their bubba. It's incredible to watch them protecting and caring for their babies. Which are so very tiny and cute and fluffy and feeble at this point. They can't even swim yet, by the looks of things, which is odd.)
I am grateful for a cute night with Cutes, yummy tofu and salad, and watermelon, and packing for our trip to Brisbane tomorrow...
With thanks... February 27...
Today I'm writing in the morning because Cute Husbee and I are off to Brisbane for a short adventure. With his bandmates. For a Platinum Brunette gig. I am grateful I can share in his dream, help him achieve his goals, and do his hair and make-up. And hopefully I will even be grateful for the challenges of said adventure :-)
(Like, aren't I too old for this? :-)
I am grateful that my migraine this morning was halted in its tracks by the right medication taken just in time...
I am grateful that I have updated my iPod with the new U2 CD...
I am grateful for all my lovely friends, and their sweet comments overnight, and Anita for watering my fairy garden...
There was no note for the 28th as I was in Brisbane with my love, being grateful that I could help him as he pursued his dreams, playing gigs and selling CDs... Mutually supporting each other :-)
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