Today I have had to deal with the facts that publishers want 3 to 4 months to review my manuscript before saying yes or no. I was surprised to learn that most publishers only publish 3 to 4 books a year. I was disappointed to learn that  it will take 8 to 12 months before the book is published.

Time is precious.  My goal is to use my book to help others who have been diagnosed with Endometrial Cancer. Statistics show there will be about 50,000 women who will receive this frightening diagnosis this year. It was/is my hope that my book will be a vehicle to share tips, lessons learned, and even give a giggle or laugh when they read about the importance of farts and the wisdom from Forrest Gump and Larry the Cable Guy.  Most importantly I want to give the reader reasons for hope. Cancer definitely detours your life but it isn't always a death sentence. People survive.

It is my plan to do presentations at various support groups and hospitals. I have already created the first one, "Three things to do immediately when you get home after being diagnosed with cancer."  I want to have the book available for sale after the presentation and also have it available if they prefer to purchase it for their ereaders.  It would be wonderful to help others find reasons for hope. To remind them that we shouldn't put a period where God has placed a comma. A portion of my book royalties would go to the American Cancer Society to help discover the whys of this dreaded disease and a cure.

The timeline required by traditional publishers now has be reconsidering self-publishing. The ACS has  authenticated all the medical information and given their compliments to the writing. Unfortunately, they won't be able to publish my book although they acknowledged the need for the subject matter. Much is published concerning breast, colon, and prostrate cancer but little on gynecological cancers.  

Wrestling with where to get the necessary funds to self-publish when we have a dead Xterra and temperamental phones to deal with, I decided to see what was happening in the world of FB. I was blessed to find the following video. I want to be a giver of encouragement and today I was a receiver. It was perfect timing, just what I needed.

The milk carton said it expires February 1st. Fixed my bowl of cereal and was grossed out when a cottage cheese type substance poured out of the carton. Yuck! Guess the bottling company didn't realize that January has 31 days. Obviously, a problem somewhere. LOL even my garbage disposal wanted to reject it.

Excited that our replacement phone batteries have arrived and our phones are being charged. We are looking forward to working phones in 12 hours - YAY!

PAPER ARTIST: CALVIN NICHOLS


There is nothing simple or ordinary about his paper art. Where we would simply use a piece of paper and a pair of scissors, Calvin uses everything you could possibly think of to carve, cut and rip perfect details onto his creations. The motifs are all wildlife, and that must be one of the hardest categories of things to make with paper since there are sometimes impossible details on animals. These details are amazing and I can't even fathom the time it must have taken to create these masterpieces of art.

Burnout can wear you down. Rustout can dull your spirit.  "Rustout  is the slow death that follows when we stop making the choices that keep life alive. It's the feeling of numbness that comes from always taking the safe way, never accepting new challenges, continually surrendering to the day-to-day routine. Rustout means we are no longer growing, but at best, are simply maintaining. It implies that we have traded the sensation of life for the security of a paycheck...rustout is the opposite of burnout.  Burnout is overdoing.  Rustout is underbeing."

In the meantime, I purchased my first bus-trolley pass and am going to get the air filled in my bike tires. Thankfully, I also enjoy walking. Hope to save some money being down to one car and not buying gas at its ever rising prices. Sometimes when life gives you lemons you buy a bus-trolley pass and enjoy the new adventures that are ahead.

AUSTIN, Texas – Jan. 17, 2013 – The LIVESTRONG Foundation issued the following statement in response to Lance Armstrong’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.


“We at the LIVESTRONG Foundation are disappointed by the news that Lance Armstrong misled people during and after his cycling career, including us. Earlier this week, Lance apologized to our staff and we accepted his apology in order to move on and chart a strong, independent course. We look forward to devoting our full energy to our mission of helping people not only fight and survive cancer, but also thrive in life after cancer.

Even in the wake of our disappointment, we also express our gratitude to Lance as a survivor for the drive, devotion and spirit he brought to serving cancer patients and the entire cancer community. Lance is no longer on the Foundation’s board, but he is our founder and we will always be grateful to him for creating and helping to build a Foundation that has served millions struggling with cancer.

The LIVESTRONG Foundation is one of the most highly-rated and effective cancer organizations in the United States. Our success has never been based on one person – it’s based on the patients and survivors we serve every day, who approach a cancer diagnosis with hope, courage and perseverance. We listened to their needs and took action to create free cancer support services that offer access to clinical trials, fertility preservation, insurance coverage and even transportation to treatment. People living with and through cancer are the inspiration behind our work. They have been, are and always will be our focus.”

Initially went through a moment of omg, how are we going to pay for everything. How can we help if my family faces flooding. Then I realized in the big picture this is really nothing. We are healthy. Currently, my family is all safe and free from harm. It will all be okay "no matter what."  Sometimes you need to remind yourself and say a prayer.

The swimmers swam from the Gandy to Picnic Island.  Each swimmer had a kayak paddling nearby to help direct them to the bouys and in case of cramps or emergency.  To say this was inspiring is an understatement. They swam 3.1 miles across the choppy water.

Their mission:

Our goal is to build national awareness of the Naval Special Warfare community and become a key fundraiser of the Navy SEAL Foundation by building a premier annual event that challenges athletes with weather conditions similar to SEAL training. "Never leave a man behind."

One man swam with his son who has down sydrome. Both were beaming with huge smiles. A veteran who lost his leg in battle was carried across the finish line after completing the swim. They had rolled his wheelchair to the water's edge but the men carried him across to thunderous applause.

It was a moving event. It would be an honor to become talented at kayaking and able to assist.

                                 

The sunrise at the Grand Canyon. It was so cold.  It was awe inspiring and to this day I swear I hear angels sing.  Today in 1908 the Grand Canyon was named a National Park.

The most stars I have ever seen were at midnight when we arrived in Nairobi. There were more than I've seen on the blackest night in the middle of the ocean. It is a memory I cherish.

Wishing you the opportunity to go outside and enjoy the beauty and miracles in nature.

This morning I received an e-mail from the publisher at the American Cancer Society.  They passed on publishing my book, "My ta-tas were fine. I had cancer down there." I was disappointed. Previously I had received positive feedback; first from the managing editor then all the medical material was approved and cited as being well done.  The entire process seemed to be moving in a positive direction at turbo speed. They only had my manuscript for less than 2 months.  During that time there was Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Years; and still it moved through quickly and with positive feedback.  I had become confident that the ACS would be publishing my book. I had even begun creating a database of prime locations for book sales and even prepared presentations. Initially my heart sunk. I had become over confident.

Reality was going to be the theme of today.  Next was the reality that take home pays decreased for work done in 2013. Apparently, the government feels FICA needs it more.

I am a proponent that the one thing in life I can control is my attitude.  I felt like I was a character in Star Wars being drawn to the dark side.

I did what is natural to me and sent a thank you note to the publisher at the American Cancer Society.  As I re-read their e-mail to me I found my attention refocused. They had used the word "excellent". They hadn't passed because it was bad writing. It wasn't a fit for their library. They had even wished me luck.

Dear Ms. McKay:

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to review your manuscript. My managing editor, Rebecca Teaff, and I have both read the manuscript and find the writing excellent. However, we are going to pass on the opportunity to publish it. We are a small publisher and are limited in the number of projects we can take on in any given year. Often this means choosing from a large pool of publishable manuscripts like yours. In this case we thought other projects were better fits for our current needs.

I wish you all the best with your book, and thank you for thinking of the American Cancer Society.

Sincerely,
Len Boswell
Book Publishing Director  

I looked outside and the weather was postcard perfect. Funny how refocusing can make an enormous difference.  Saying thank you to ACS reminded me of my many blessings. First and foremost I am grateful to be alive to feel disappointed and sometimes frustrated (smile).  I am grateful that a company that is dedicated to cancer support found my book accurate and excellent. I am grateful that I had the freedom today to go for a drive and walk on the beach. I wasn't in an office waiting for 5 o'clock.  I am grateful that there is money coming in even if it is less than before.  I am grateful for the good health and safety of my loved ones.

It is an amazing thing, once you start being grateful your spirit is buoyed and you realize your blessings are too numerous to list. I am grateful I regained control of my attitude and didn't fumble. I remain positive and hopeful.

Post Script to my day:  I received a reply to my thank-you. I am truly a blessed lady. I recognize the power of being grateful and having a strong faith. 

I am sorry that we could not publish your book. The good news is we are just one of more than a hundred publishers who publish in this niche. I think you have an excellent chance of being picked up by another publisher. Len Boswell Director, Publishing

     

"Life is full of endless possibilities. With my brain in high gear, I can think up all kinds of fun places to visit and things to do. I can close my eyes and envision myself sitting on a balmy beach, toes curled in the sand. Or with the blink of an eye, I can see myself skiing down a mountain of soft, powdery snow, living my own version of "Rocky Mountain High." The best thing is this: not only can I think all these things up in my head...if I want I can make them a reality. The potential is within me to be and do anything I set my mind to...and so I can. Give it a try...wish,hope, dream..then with all the power you have within you make it happen."   Suzy Toronto

Thank you Suzy for the reminder and planting the seeds of possibilities in my imagination and 2013 Action Plan.