Yeah, random stuff coming your way. You've been warned.

First off, the Great Gallbladder Strikeout.

This is a disgustingly cute plush gallbladder toy. Source << Where to buy it. Seriously. They sell these things.

Two weeks of incredibly I'd-rather-give-birth kind of pain, people. It was neither cute nor funny. My gallbladder was letting itself be known--such a drama queen the little thing was, pshaw!--and it tormented me daily with pain that would last as long as 5 and 1/2 hours (yeah, I passed out on the bed, only to awaken to more pain) on a really bad day, 1 hour on a good day. I couldn't take care of my kids or my baby boy. One time, I drove my boys to their doctor's appointment, and on the way home, my stomach started hurting. My fingers made a dent on that steering wheel, I kid you not. I was determined to make it home alive, with my boys unharmed from a possible vehicular accident. (Mind you, I wasn't being completely stupid driving while in pain.  I knew that I would have to pull over if it became too intense for me to handle.) Thankfully, we made it home and then I promptly passed out in my room (after handing the boys over to grandma's care).

It's been 3 1/2 weeks since the surgery. I'm pain-free, I'm happy, I'm healthy and getting stronger each day, and no way do I miss my gallbladder. Thank goodness for modern medicine (and for a wonderful surgeon).

PSA: To learn more about cholelithiasis (gallstone) and cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation), check out these links:

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/understanding-gallstones-basics

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tc/cholecystitis-overview


Next up: The LDStorymaker conference

Before the gallbladder strikeout, I had purchased a ticket for a Saturday session at the LDStorymaker conference (May 10 & 11) in Provo, Utah. It was my first time to attend a writer's conference, and I almost didn't make it because people, in real life, I'm an extremely shy person. Yessiree, my good pal Bethany Crandell had to talk me into going. She wasn't going to be there, but she's such an awesome friend she just knew I needed someone--her--to push me out of my comfort zone. (She'd probably push me off the cliff too if that would make me fly, if you know what I mean. This gal pal of mine is a real treasure, I tell ya.) So I got me a ticket months before the conference, months before I knew I was going to have surgery. Luckily for me, two days before the conference, my surgeon gave me the go-ahead: I was finally allowed to do whatever I want, even to pick up and carry the baby, except powerlifting and weight-lifting. And since attending the conference did not require any dumbbells but only stamina to endure a whole day of sitting down, scribbling notes, and chatting up with fellow writers, away I went.

It was FUN! It was INFORMATIVE! Was I nervous? Yes, but as I didn't have to pitch to any agents or editors there, it wasn't stressful. I got to meet my online writer friends (LOTS of HUGS and HAPPY SQUEALS all around) and I also learned a TON about writing and publishing. Methinks I'll have to blog about this in another post. Also, there are pictures, but I'll have to steal them from Shelly Brown someday. My iPhone camera was full, and I couldn't take anymore pics, except for one (but it wasn't very good so I stole Robin Hall's photo instead).

With my lovely agency sister, Robin Hall! Sorry I stole your picture, Robin. But don't you agree we look better in this pic than the one I took? :-D

Anyway, I was glad I went, even if I had to leave a wee bit early because I ran out of steam (it had only been 2 weeks post-surgery, and my energy level wasn't up to par yet). The moral of the story?

This is my notebook where I jot down outlines and plots and ideas. I love it!

And finally, Disneyland!

The fam and I had a blast at Disneyland last week. The past month had been especially grueling for everyone because of my health issues, so going to Disneyland felt like a much needed reward-slash-reprieve for all of us. I'm not gonna go into details about what rides we went on, or how we liked Cars Land (we LOVED it!), or what the baby boy's favorite attraction was (the Enchanted Tiki Room!). But I do have to say this: Disney sure knows how to entertain.

And if I really have to push it and tie Disneyland to writing, it would have to be this: That even (some) Disney rides follow a plot structure.



Have a great week, everyone!

I'm not generalizing here...I'm only referring to myself.

Yes, me. The quiet, inconspicuous person you don't see behind the online persona. In real life, when people talk, I'm the one who listens. I'm not the loud, obnoxious Uncle in the family reunion party, regaling everyone with his incredible tale of escaping the deadly bite of the garter snake he found in his garden (I'd be the one chuckling to myself because garter snakes are not deadly, nor particularly poisonous to humans).

In other words, I don't live for the spotlight. Instead, I make sure everything goes smoothly backstage.

That is who I am. And as I learn more and more about the publishing biz, frankly, I'm afraid.

Too often we hear how we as writers are expected to MARKET OURSELVES.