With thanks...
APRIL 2009
I am grateful for getting my new book finished, and to my love for all his support...
With thanks... April 1...
Today I am grateful for the gorgeous Daniella and her amazing talent, her patience and her generosity of spirit...
I am grateful to my love for making me tea all day as I wrote madly to make this deadline...
I am grateful that I got a good chunk done...
I am grateful for Law & Order for providing a little distraction to clear my head and give me a break.
I am grateful for painkillers (but no surprise my head hurts this week, sigh)...
And now I am grateful for bed. So sleepy!
With thanks... April 2...
Today I am grateful for the beautiful cover of my new book. So pretty!
I am grateful for gentle, cleansing sun showers...
I am grateful to my beautiful love, for making me tea all day, and lunch, and patting my aching head, and being so supportive and encouraging as I race to the finish line on this project...
I am grateful that my book seems to be available everywhere - somebody bought it from Dymocks in George Street...
And I am grateful for bed... So sleepy!
With thanks... April 3...
Today I am grateful for surviving another 18 hour day in my little purple office, and getting so much done. The cover is at the printer, I have one section left to write, and even a bit of time left for more editing :-)
I am grateful to the girl in the cafe downstairs who insisted on making me a coffee even though she had started cleaning up, and for the traditional German gingerbread cookies that made my afternoon a little sweeter...
I am grateful to my beautiful love for being so kind, and encouraging me to keep going when I am so tired and mentally exhausted and wanting to give up, and making me endless cups of tea, and cooking the cheesies, all before he left for his 10 hours of retail hell...
And I am grateful for the cool rains, the thunder that has just started to roll in, and the (relative!) energy I gain when night falls...
With thanks... April 4...
Today I am grateful for civil rights activist Martin Luther King (who was shot dead on this day in 1968), and all people who stand up for their beliefs and manage to change the world, even just a little bit, and to U2, for bringing so many of them to our attention... Even if they get the time of day wrong ("Early morning, April 4, a shot rings out in a Memphis sky...")
I am grateful to my love for convincing me to leave the house, for a cute little lunch in a cute little cafe, and a brisk walk to clear my head...
I am grateful for cups of tea and gingerbread cookies, which ended up being dinner cos I was too panicked to stop working... Okay, so that's my excuse!
And I am grateful for the extra hour we gained when the clocks went back. Tonight, of all nights, it was put to good use - I worked through til 6am, but really it was only 5 :-)
With thanks... April 5 & 6...
Today I am grateful that I got my book to the printer on time...
I am grateful for the lovely encouraging comments from friends...
I am grateful that tonight I can sleep... I haven't pulled an all nighter for years, but I got my book done, just, by refusing to go to bed for two nights. It's amazing what the body is capable of. And while I was nodding off this morning (sadly in the crucial final editing section!) as the day went on I perked up, and got a bit of other work done...
It's weird, this book went off without much fanfare - although I am grateful to my love for bringing home my favourite cupcakes and making a fuss of it all.
I am immensely grateful to him for encouraging me through this one, and keeping me going when I wanted to give up, and drawing the beautiful little pictures - it's my favourite page!
I am grateful to Daniella for her beautiful work on the cover, and to Ange and Anita and Lucy and Martini and Cynthia and Peta and Trudie and Kate for little comments of encouragement along the way...
I am grateful for reader feedback about Seven Sacred Sites - it makes all the struggles and battles and hard work seem worthwhile that it has affected people so deeply, and made them happy and sad and inspired and moved to tears...
And now I am grateful for bed...
With thanks... April 7...
Today I am grateful that I made it through the work day without feeling (too) tired. Thank you carrots and multi vitamins I was popping over the last two weeks :-) And a few large soy chais...
I am grateful for a cute day at the cute magazines - now I know who Foofa and Brobee are :-)
I am grateful to Sabina for the stamps :-)
I am grateful for the cool night air as I walked home (already dark when I left - so strange and sudden, but nice!)...
I am grateful to my beautiful love for our cute kitchen adventure, snuggling on the couch and chocolate bunnies...
And I am grateful that for the first time in weeks I don't have to set the alarm tonight :-)
With thanks... April 8...
Today I am grateful that... I contacted the printer early this morning to ask when the book proofs would be arriving, because although after I sent them on Monday I emailed to check they had arrived, and was told yes, they claimed they had gone to the junk folder, so they hadn't even started proofing. Hmm...
I am grateful that Daniella sent a cover proof and it looks amazing :-)
I am grateful that I did finally get the proofs at 8pm, and while rather hastily compiled and not a book block proof at all, I can get the vague idea...
I am grateful for sympathy from my friends, and lovely feedback about the cover...
I am grateful that I wrote half of my story that is due... now... And will finish it tomorrow, after a good night sleep...
With thanks... April 9...
Today I am grateful that the proofs have been approved...
That I finished the story I had due and sent it off...
That I started to read a book for fun (sheer luxury after writing one)...
That tomorrow I can take a few hours off...
That the full moon is so pretty and vibrant and golden :-)
With thanks... April 10...
Today I am grateful for the beautiful full moon and its gorgeous hide and seek dance behind the gothic looking clouds...
I am grateful for liquid advid and nurofen plus, for at least dulling the migraine on and off today...
I am grateful for Celia Ahern's book Thanks For The Memories, which has a fascinating premise, and kept me relaxed and snuggling on the couch all day...
I am grateful for chocolate... naughty but nice. And it is Easter I suppose :-)
I am grateful for my sweet love, our cute dinner and a lovely walk home in the darkness under the moonlight...
With thanks... April 11...
Today I am grateful for a day off...
For coffee with a friend, and long conversations, and a light and fluffy movie, and seeing our ducks all grown up as we walked past the pond, and walking walking walking in the gathering twilight...
For meeting Cutes after work, and a picnic in our loungeroom, and spicy pumpkin dip (how seasonally appropriate!)...
For making it to bed before midnight, and trying to catch up on sleep...
With thanks... April 12...
Today I am grateful, frankly, that the day is over :-)
It wasn't one of my best - everything seemed to go wrong or be done just to annoy me (I went to yoga but the gym was shut, I had to bring in all my plants cos they're painting the balcony, but I dropped the biggest, wettest one all over the carpet, something's up with my website etc), but I am grateful that even in my dark mood, I found my own grumpiness somewhat amusing.
I am grateful for a long walk in the gathering darkness, for the cooler nights, for a chai with my love after he finished work, for dinner with my aunty and uncle...
I am grateful for a lovely long email from Ange, and I am excited by how her new adventure is unfolding...
And now I am off to bed, grateful for a new day tomorrow, a fresh start, the chance to begin it all over and be much more cheerful...
With thanks... April 13...
Today I am grateful for my ability to laugh at myself :-)
After walking up to the station from work in the rain, and sitting on the train like a little drowned mousie, I vowed to get a cab home - but I was too impatient to wait, and so I trudged home in the pouring rain, laughing at the absurdity of life, and the beauty of the rain. Sighing at each car that drove too close and drenched me in water, cracking up as I stepped off the curb into knee-high puddles (and wondering how I never noticed those pavements were so high)...
I am grateful for hot showers, and dry clothes :-)
I am grateful for seeing old friends at my old work, where I moonlighted for a day...
I am grateful for sympathetic friends commiserating that I had to work on a holiday :-)
And for being home at the same time as Cutes for once, and having dinner together, and chatting about our days, and laughing at Boston Legal, and groaning at Extras, and bringing in the last of the plants from the balcony together (who knew I had so many?), so they can paint tomorrow. I'm grateful that I remembered to shut the windows too, as instructed :-) That could have gone horribly wrong...
With thanks... April 14...
Today I am grateful for a morning with my Cutes...
For allowing myself a few hours to read... Back When We Were Grown Ups by Anne Tyler... Funnily enough, it has the same theme as the interesting quote Andi posted today: "When a person shows you their real self ~ believe them!" Maya Angelou... (It's not quite as sweet as it sounds either. Be warned! :-)
For revamping my website (web.me.com/sereneconneeley) and designing a couple of promo sheets for my new book...
For my perseverance in the ongoing battle to get my book physically printed. Grr!
For the Goddess Pages magazine (hard copy) that I received in the mail, with my story in it...
For snuggling on the couch with my love when he got home from work at 11pm, and watching NCIS :-)
With thanks... April 15...
Today I am grateful for a sunshiney day :-)
For the little strawberry on my strawberry plant...
For finally getting the printer sorted (I hope!)...
For a lunch date with my Cutes (after we were stood up by a friend :-)
For time spent in the bookshop, and a new Anne Tyler book (new for me anyway)...
For a fun movie date night (X-Men and X2) with my love, snuggled on the couch with tea and grapes and a tiny little Freddo frog...
With thanks... April 16...
Today I am grateful for a fun working from home day, reading the script of a Disney movie and adapting it down into a little tiny book. So cute! And now I'm looking forward to seeing it on the big screen (G-Force, starring Nicolas Cage, Steve Buscemi and Bill Nighy)...
I am grateful that Cutes and I got a little bit of time together before we had to leave, to drink tea and chat about our days...
I am grateful for a brisk walk through the gorgeous sunset twilight, and a walk home caressed by the chill night air and the sight of the glorious golden half moon hanging low and heavy in the velvet sky...
I am grateful for dinner with a friend and uproarious laughter and funny stories and commiserations and lots and lots of tea...
I am grateful to friends offering to pop by during the Mind Body Spirit Festival to mind my stall so I can go get a cup of tea or a breath of fresh air...
And I am grateful that we remembered to tape Law & Order and can go watch it now...
With thanks... April 17...
Today I am grateful for green grapes...
For work being fun (more Disney)...
For a cute morning with my love...
For my flatmate from my uni days getting in touch...
For the cute postcards I designed...
For a brisk walk into town and back in the slightly chilly, mysterious darkness...
For the arrival of Twilight, special edition, on DVD...
For a big soy chai...
For how happy Cutes was with his thank you present - the David Bowie 70s collection...
For the illustrations he drew - my favourite page in my new book - which I was thanking him for...
With thanks... April 18...
Today I am grateful for a trip back through time, listening to David Bowie's albums from the 70s and realising how many words I still knew from my massive fandom as a kid. I'm looking forward to reliving the 80s phase too, which is when I first got into him (Scary Monsters), before being distracted by Hanoi Rocks, Motley Crue, Alice Cooper... Marilyn Manson, Platinum Brunette... Funny that I always liked the music of men in make-up :-)
I am grateful for a morning with my Cutes, before he left for work.
I am grateful for my beautifully tidy office... I didn't get to starting my tax, as planned, but at least I have room to do it and know where all the relevant papers are :-)
I am grateful for a new (to me) Anne Tyler book...
And I am grateful for cooling rains and peaceful grey skies...
With thanks... April 19...
Today I am grateful for cooling rains and clean, fresh, chill air. So beautiful :-)
I am grateful for my clean office, and my almost-organised tax stuff...
I am grateful for my sweet love, and the fun we have together...
I am grateful for the Anne Tyler book I'm reading...
For Talia's beautiful dancing...
And for the countdown to my new book...
With thanks... April 20...
Today I am grateful for my beautiful fairy garden and my fairy friends from around the world...
I am grateful that Cutes was on early today and we got to have dinner together and hang out...
I am grateful that I got my tax organised in time for the accountant tomorrow, finished cutting the Disney film script down to its tiniest version possible, and finished off some posters for my book launch...
I can't believe it's only 10 days until the Mind Body Spirit festival, and the unveiling of my new book, and I am grateful to all the friends who are coming to support me.
I am grateful for my tidy office, the invigorating air sweeping through it and clearing out the cobwebs (both literal and metaphoric), and the fact that my head hasn't hurt for a few days now...
With thanks... April 21 and 22...
Today I am grateful for a day at home with my love, the one day we both had off work this week, thankfully synchronistic...
It passed in a blur though, cos yesterday afternoon I started feeling all achey and flu-ey and hot then cold, and I was still vague today, and had the odd nap, and barely left the couch...
I am grateful for Twilight on DVD and all the deleted scenes...
And I am grateful that I'm feeling a bit better now, and hopeful I'll be all good by the morning...
From yesterday, I'm grateful that I finally did my tax, and they had overcharged me by a few thousand dollars and have to give some back...
I am grateful for a fun day at work at Little Friends, and a cute new issue out soon...
And now I am grateful for bed...
With thanks... April 23...
Today I am grateful for the cool winds that soothed my little red cheeks as I power walked to work...
I am grateful for a fun day of Hercules, Power Rangers, Dinosaur and Sleeping Beauty...
I am grateful for the lovely Martine, and for my beautiful love...
I am grateful for my family, and the kindness of our newer extended family...
And I will be grateful when they finish painting the balconies so my little plants can go back out in the sunshine and fresh air. They're not quite so happy being kept inside :-)
With thanks... April 24...
Today I am grateful that my new book arrived! Well, books :-) A Magical Journey: Your Diary of Inspiration, Adventure and Transformation is ready to go out into the world!
I am grateful that it looks so lovely (thanks Daniella for the cover, and my Cutes for the illustrations!), and so nice next to Seven Sacred Sites.
I am grateful for a happy morning with my love, and for unfolding plans.
And I am grateful for all the well wishes, encouragement and congratulatory messages from my friends around the world.
Thank you!
With thanks... April 25...
Today I am grateful for my new book (still). I guess I'm allowed to be excited for a little while. It looks so pretty and real :-)
I am grateful for a beautiful morning with my love...
And a productive day redoing my website, adding sections and getting organised to get the new book out there...
I am grateful for lovely feedback...
And for the celebratory present I bought myself to honour the occasion (www.fairiesandfantasy.com)...
With thanks... April 26...
Today I am grateful that I sold the first copy of my new book! Before it's been released or even put on my website properly. Very exciting!
I am grateful (after a fashion) for a day signing books for bookshops in WA.
I am grateful for the sunshine and the icy cold breeze...
And I am grateful that the best dancer won!
With thanks... April 27...
Today I am grateful for the lovely and talented Andrew and Sean, who set up my "official" website at www.SevenSacredSites.com.au, and will soon update it with the new book!
I am grateful for a cute day at Disney Princess...
A brisk walk into the city and the icy chill breeze that made it so much more pleasant...
I am grateful for the moment I sent off the first purchased copy of the new book...
The rapidly approaching launch at the MBS festival...
And my beautiful love, who had dinner waiting for me when I got home from work...
With thanks... April 28...
Today I am so grateful to my beautiful love, who stayed home waiting for the delivery guy to pick up 13 boxes of books heading for WA bookstores... (Of course the guy was late too, sorry!)
I am grateful that Brumby Books are keen to distribute the new book...
I am grateful for a fun day at Disney Princess...
The cute, colourful pens I bought to go with the new book when I sell it at the Mind Body Spirit festival this week...
And I am grateful to all my friends who are coming down to lend a hand over the four days...
With thanks... April 29...
Today I am so grateful to my beautiful love, who helped me set up my little stall for the Mind Body Spirit festival. Which was fun. And it looks so pretty :-)
I am grateful that for this one I have two books available, which isn't bad seeing that I launched the first at the festival in November :-)
I am grateful to my gorgeous Cutes for the lovely congratulations present he bought me to celebrate the new book - Paulo Coelho's new one!
I am grateful for it being such a productive day - I posted books to the distributor, got posters laminated for the walls, banked my tax cheque, sent off all the family birthday presents for the next month :-)
I am grateful to my aunty and uncle for lending me their car to load in...
And I am grateful for icy cool breezes, warm, soothing chai and my love's hugs...
With thanks... April 30...
Today I am grateful to my beautiful love, for helping me at the Mind Body Spirit Festival before having to race off to work in the afternoon, and to Cynthia, who hung out with me on and off for the whole day, entertaining me, keeping me company and bringing me water and vegie chips :-)
I am grateful to all those who bought my new book - and the old one - and appreciative of the lovely feedback I got.
I am grateful for soy chai, cool breezes and a warm bed before starting all over again for day two...
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The Book of Faery Magic, Seven Sacred Sites and A Magical Journey are available from bookstores across Australia, distributed by Brumby Books, and through this website.
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