Busy Times

Come in…sit down…relax…it has been a ‘hit the ground running’ type of week…I have fallen for the Simply Raspberry Lemonade…I will pour some over ice for you…I am feeling much better this week, thank you for asking…


My massage business has been hopping…I was really feeling the flow…the clients were happy as each massage went over by 10-15 minutes…I really enjoy seeing them feel better when they leave…okay lets talk business…since he massage business is one of a personal nature, marketing is a tricky issue…I have spent a lot of money over the years and some of it was truly NOT worth it…postcards were one of those bad ideas…only 1 in 9 appreciate it/ 3-5 of the same 9 will actually get upset…if you run an advert in a local paper…please be careful, you may entice more than clients…I have a cool little flyer that I advert in at times and have gotten great results…I used to try the local major paper- this brought me a lot of freaks and police (either way not a good thing)…craigslist is not a great idea either…I used to advert on there until almost every call from there was a freak or a cop…massage is my passion and I love my job…I want to work on people who need me and not play childish games with people who waste my time…


School has been a catch up this week…the computer class is great…though I wish I had a typist stand to hold the book up while I am trying to do my work at the computer…I have learned a lot of new tricks around Microsoft office…I have even built my first power point…Thank Goddess for an understanding teacher…he has allowed me to make up the work from last week…it feels good to be getting caught up


Waiting for the release of book 2 is like being pregnant and waiting for the baby…I have 2 more weeks to go…I am in love with the updated video that Chris has done with Chapter 1 of Family, Friends and Funerals…the sound is something we are working on…we are new to the video shoot game…thank you for having patients with us…Rose and Chris are out shooting Chapter 2 this weekend…I am not thrilled with how my massage videos turned out, but I have many ideas how we will make them better…Don has been helpful…even though he has started a new job, he has made sure to call and has started applying new knowledge so that he will help us make a great website…so very cool


Okay…so now you want to know why I look so stressed…we are currently in hurricane season…this means rain every afternoon with a lot of lightening…a bolt dropped down on the street beside our house…we are all fine, but it did damage in both homes on my property…at the folks- mom’s computer got fried, dad’s computer had the Ethernet card blow, on the back of his house the flood lights blew, his water heater blew up too…at our house the modem for the phone got blown up, the computer one went sideways, and 2 new holes popped in the roof…with work, school and Boudica- lets just say I was ready to hurt people…dad went to best buy and got a new Ethernet card…I told mom to call the home insurance about her computer…Walter replaced the water heater for dad…Heckle and Jeckle in Home Depot…this was truly a laugh riot…Walter rewired the flood lights…Brighthouse was quick…my phone was only down 2 days…they replaced the modem and sent signal to the other…Walter, Don and Dale will be climbing on the roof to lay down the new membrane…so everything got handled, but what an unholy orgasm…and of coarse mom is in Maine this week


The animals are shedding…all the dogs have short thin hair…so when we get to this point of the year they all look so bald…the cat is leaving white hair everywhere…when I sweep, due to the high amount of animal hair, I take it out to the back yard and dump it beside the compost heap…this way the critters out there can build their winter nest…the pond fish are putting on their winter weight…their colors are so bright…my bird house got blown out of the tree in this weeks storm…funny, we used deck screws to put it up…they are still in the tree…a mouse family tried to move into the house…Walter suddenly became the hunter…he tried glue traps…that was a waste of money…I showed Walter the glue trap and said, ‘It looks like Ming’s Chinese Theatre’, and pointed to the little foot prints left in the glue…he then tried the old snap traps…he got one…he was so happy…after a few more days he got some decon…I do not like that stuff for several reasons…he got the rest of the family, but God made him pay for it…they died in the walls and my house has stunk to high heaven all week


The garden and pool have been a happy place…the heat has broken and the flowers are starting to pop out…it is quite beautiful…we have had swarms of butterflies…I wish I could paint…I know where the renaissance artists’ got their inspiration…my little blue jay has been patrolling the air above the roof top and fighting with any bird who tries to enter the yard…I get a huge belly laugh out of it, because he usually loses…the osprey couple has come in early this year…it is good to see them…the female hawk is still hanging out…I think she has a thing for dad…my Cosmo rose has started blooming again and has taken pink to a whole new level…Dad’s front box has every flower in bloom right now…it looks like they will spill into the yard…we have had a pair of parrots hanging out too…I think someone let them go…sadly that happens a lot here in the country


Thank you to all of those who have been sending wood for my Induction ceremony…I feel as though I am ready for this honor…the first meeting of The Circle of Boudica will be 9/28/10 at 8 pm…if you can not make it all e-mail/letters will be read to the group unless otherwise requested…Our Bard Chris Bilton will be handling the news letter…please contact him if you wish to receive a copy (biltonwords@hotmail.com) …We will be getting ready for Samhain and praying for a bountiful harvest


The kids are doing well…the grandkids are well…my friends are outstanding…I still do farmtown on facebook…even though we are scattered all over the world now, we get to play…it is fun, but I do miss everyone…I am thinking on renting a house in NC for a week this winter…I know, I have not left Florida in 10 years…I will be close to all the girls and grandkids…Dansir is hoping to go with me…then we can have a really good time…I love the words road trip…I have been streaming a lot of Netflix…I love it…NO disks to mess with…At my table the games we play the most are- cribbage, chapel rummy, phase 10, scrabble, Yahtzee and Darts (these are on the wall)…we have a game going almost every day…I have Othello that the others play…I got to the point where I could not loose, so it became boring…Endless Ocean is a great educational game for the Wii…it is only one player…I enjoy it…you really feel like you are there swimming with all of these wonderful creatures…I just got finished reading The Art of War…I found it interesting and applicable to many parts of my life…


Want to boost the immune system for fall and winter? I have the best recipe…

Stuffed Peppers

1 Garlic- whole clove (roasted)
1 Onion (chopped finely)
1 lb Hamburger
½ lb Pork (ground)
1 Can stewed tomatoes
1 package Knorr Spanish rice
4 Large peppers (make sure they can sit flat)
6T Parmesan cheese
2C Mozzarella cheese
1 Jar tomato sauce
1/8 t of the following spices marjoram, thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano and basil


Cut around the top edge of peppers, clean and put on to boil
Put a little olive oil in a fry pan and add the onions, cook until soft
Add hamburger, pork and garlic and cook until brown
When brown, drain and place in mixing bowl (cover with towel to keep warm)
Put Rice on to cook (In a bowl mix spices and add to rice)
Line baking pan with tinfoil and add 2C sauce to the bottom
Drain peppers and seat them in the sauce
In the mixing bowl, add parmesan cheese and stewed tomatoes with hamburger and pork
Add rice and mix again
Spoon mixture into the peppers
Add ½ C of Mozzarella to cap off the peppers
Cook at 350f for approx 30 minutes


I am so glad you came to visit…I know you have a busy life and must be on your way…I am going to listen to Bob Marley and clean the pool…May your day be blessed


D

Good Morrow My Flower

Merry Meet…you seem a little flustered…come sit with me…I made some citronella candles to keep the bugs away…how has your week been?

It has been a relaxing week…I got quite a bit done just the same…

The massage room has been deep cleaned and all padding washed…I pulled out and tested my paraffin tank and table heater…I will be placing my sombra order next week…if you need some let me know…it has been a busy week…I am looking for purple sheets…if you see some please let me know

We have opened the American Boudica Publishing Youtube page…tomorrow we will be taping and uploading…I am very excited

I have not found any good contracts up to bid on, but I am keeping watch

I have been on summer break this week from school…my next class up is computers…I am really thinking this will be cool…classes such as this teach some really cool tricks

I have started my seeds for fall crops - Anise (Pimpinella anisum), Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum), Dill (Anethum graveolens) and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)…it has rained for days…it is good as the ground can use it…I like the idea of the crape myrtle hedge to block the sun from the house…I will keep you posted as to how it works…

Since we have had so much rain, pool time has been limited…when I do get to go…the water has been freezing…this left me time to go through mail (snail and e) and autumn clean…I fixed hubby’s computer, made some great meals, washed the dogs and have been enjoying my time with friends

The stuffed shells were awesome…Walt felt special when I made him stuffed peppers…with so many fresh veggies around, I have started cooking ahead…pack it and stick it in the freezer…when I need instant food, pop it out of the freezer and into the oven…This way I cook 5 meals at 1 time…saves money and time…also because you cooked it, you know what is in it…I got into this habit when the kids were small and it has stuck with me…many meals lend themselves to this (meatloaf, casseroles, lasagna, stuffed shells, etc)…the herbs and spices really get the chance to penetrate…so if you are new go easy…

The Circle of Boudica is getting put together…I am happily awaiting my time…I feel really good about life…it is a unique experience and I am glad I get to be here at the start

Dill is a marvelous herb to the stomach and is really cool how its’ phytonutrients promote good skin…it is a strong herb…I love how the flowers pop like fireworks…very easy to grow in a semi sunny window

Dill Dip
3/4 c coarsely chopped fresh parsley
1/3 c chopped fresh dill weed (or 1tbsp dried)
1 c low-fat cottage cheese
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 c light sour cream or low-fat plain yogurt
1/4 c chopped green onion 1 tsp salt freshly ground pepper
1Tbsp Honey (optional)


Well…it is time for me to go to bed…when you have time come visit again

Blessed Be,
D

Adrift in my own little world

My desk is momentarily cleaned off and I thought I would stop by…

I am feeling good…for many years it was unsafe to go back…here is what I mean…my life at one point turned to a real life nightmare…at that point, I did not want to drag any of my friends through it…so I stayed away from everyone…it did not mean I did not love them or did not care…I was not safe and did not have a right to put others in that danger…in the last year many of those very special people have found their way back into my life…it has shown me how wonderful they are and how very lucky I am

It was 15 years ago today I took my last beating…a strange anniversary to celebrate…though it has been a busy day, there has been a strange undercurrent of freedom…I am soon to turn 45…I never thought I would make it this far…there is life after abuse…and it can be good

On a lighter note…things have been moving fast this week…every time I thought there would be time to chill the phone would ring…it is good to be busy…the rain that has been falling has been leaving this brown film on everything…which has created a lot of extra cleaning…massage has kept me hopping…sore shoulders and stiff backs…the 90 year old that tried to take up jogging to impress his 80 neighbor had me shaking my head…Chris and I have been on Skype most every day…it is great to be back in the groove of life and have the creativity juices flowing…class time has been great…I have to admit I am really impressed at the level of education…the teachers are great…also the other students really seem to get into it…I think it makes the class a lot of fun and the information much easier to absorb…it has led to some very cool conservations…I have been putting together my non-profit status for ‘The Circle of Boudica’…The Induction Ceremony is private…I am very nervous…I will take pictures when I can and post them…

Someone asked me once would I go back and change anything…the answer is no…the beatings were horrid and have left a mark on my soul…it was hard to bury children…at the time I wondered why…a few years ago I stopped wondering…in one day mind you…I went to the hospital to see a client…on my way to his room I got stuck in the elevator with a young woman who had lost her child…when we came out of the elevator we both had a different prospective than when we had gone in…I got to the shop and my first client was an abuser…it was something I felt and he confirmed…this was a difficult session for both of us…I agreed to take him as a client only if he would get counseling…he followed through with both…he has become a wonderful husband and father…again perspective had been altered…I got home that night and was woken by a knock at the door…it was a friend who had just been hit…I said nothing and tended her wounds…she seemed puzzled that I did not get upset…she had brought her daughter with her…I asked one simple question ‘What are you going to do when this happens to her?’ It was a similar question that made me get away from the beatings…it would kill me to think of any of my children to be on either end of it…3 months later she moved on her own…Damb, here is that perspective thing again…in a moment of deep meditation I could see clearly…I couldn’t have helped any of those people had I not walked the road I walked…I am glad to be able to help others…I choose to keep a positive perspective on it all…something good came from something so ugly

So for today, let’s celebrate life…the air we breathe, the ground we walk on, the water that flows through our bodies…

For Bumps and Bruises (In the following order)
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation

May you all be blessed with never having such an anniversary…if you have a candle…burn it and pray for those who need it, to get to safety…

Blessed Be,
D

‘being an author’

I have been asked several questions as of late about ‘being an author’. It is all strange and still a bit new to me. Really, it is something I never pictured for myself…it just kind of happened that way. Time is one of the many blessings that a bad economy has given me.

I had a story to tell, wanted to tell, needed to tell…but, no voice. I found a wonderful friend on the internet. One as creative as myself, with the knowledge I lacked. We started 4 books and were working on each of them and together we found a groove. Through his kind words and consideration, my voice became clear. I woke one morning and I knew how the story was that needed to be told. I got on my computer and let what was on my mind flow. I e-mailed it to Chris and called him. I was so excited. We chose to put the other books on the back burner….Boudica was born.

This is a job that does not pay right away. That being said, I had to work my day job. I would type at night and send it to Chris. In the morning, I call him and we go through it. Discussing every note and working through every detail. He would take what I sent and add his spin to it and we would go through it again. I average about 35 hours a week writing and conferencing about the book.

The story flowed like water through my keyboard. I have trashed entire chapters if I do not feel they hold true to the story. The lead heroine came from a very deep and private place and through the series she has grown quite dynamic…mystical and human at the same time. The reporter became a way for Chris to give men a voice and inject a male line of thinking in the book. Not some Joe GQ but, rather an everyday kind of guy.

In the first book, I wanted to transport the reader to Boudica’s world. I had to give care with the story as I knew it would be a series and did not want to give away too much. Since I had never done this before, I bumbled my way through it. Chris and I spent hours on research. The cover held a lot of meaning to Chris and me and it took a few days to get just what we wanted. We were also blessed with help and criticism from our spouses. They gave us a lot of love and support. As the book ended, Rose stepped up to the plate and was a big help once we chose how we would publish (see blog on publishing).

While book 1 was being published, we worked on book 2. As it began, we started calling it ‘the sexy book’. It was difficult to write as most of it was in areas I was well acquainted with. I took a lot for granted. We had to rewrite the first 3 chapters 4 times just to add detail. The family we met in book one became part of our family in book 2. Our parents, spouses, children, friends and clients all now wanted weekly updates. I found myself reaching deeper and wanting more from book 2. I wanted the reader to feel as though they were at the table with the characters’.

As marketing for book 1 is happening and publishing on book 2, we are currently working on book 3. So far, it carries the name of the fun book. This one has been very unusual and had a lot of research put in. The reader feels a sense of friendship. I am always amazed to see where Boudica will take us next…..

To publish or to be published

To publish or to be published…that is the question. I find each writer has to answer this for themselves and for their work. For us, we went the self publishing route. This is not and was not a choice made lightly. Many things must be taken into consideration-
1) How big is the book?
2) Are you willing to pay all of the extra people?
(proof reader/converter/ISBN/barcode/copywrite/printer/ect…)
3) Are you willing to do the research?
4) Having to write and obtain permission for places or people used in the book.
5) Marketing…this is a big deal…knowing who to write letters to…weather to send a book or a press release…getting people interested

These are but, a few of the issues we had to discuss before we chose to do it all. Chris and I being the creative type had delusions of grandeur. Thank heaven we had Rose. She put us to being practical. When we made our final decision to publish the book on our own, she was there for us. Just as Chris and I had clicked creative juice on the book, Rose’s creative side shone in the publishing arena. There are contracts for work you need to dole out and some to be signed. If they made it past Rose it went to Cindy, she does all my legal work.

This part of writing a book takes 20-30 hours a week of my time. Walter and Dale both help by giving us new ideas and editing. All of us knowing it will take 6 months- 1 year before it takes off. My upfront costs for book 1, was just under $2000. We had to rush to make our Christmas deadline. I was sad as a handful of mistakes had to slip by us.

Launching the website to go with the series was not as easy as one might think. It had to be gone through and really scanned to make sure the content did not go all over the place. The product line was also a hard thing to develop.

Going into book 2 was much easier. We knew what to expect and what was expected of us. I allowed more time for every phase wanting to make sure it was better than book 1 not only in content, but also in editing.

What advice would I give other trying to accomplish this goal?
1) PROOFREAD your book at every junction
2) Don’t assume your book is the only one on the market
3) Take classes in Marketing (useful weather or not you have a publisher)
4) Ask for help from family and friends

All in all, I am happy with our choices. It has not been easy; it is a long wait for return on your investment, but to me, it has all been worth it. I am new to publishing and still learning. I have been asked if we would publish books other than the ones that we write…the answer is yes. I review manuscripts that have been sent to me and if I like it and believe in it, I would publish it.

I hope this helps to answer most of the questions I have been getting. I love the mail and e-mail from the fans and new authors. Thank you all so very much.

My Massage

People, who have never been on my table, often ask what it is like to be on my table...

After much thought, I think I can walk you through a full body treatment:

The room you enter reminds you of a safe, warm place...candles, ocean sounds and soft music...you relax on a table that is soft and comfortable...my massage starts in the top of the back...I stretch and sooth every muscle...my table is the place where you get praised to be lazy...because we work as one...moving your body is effortless for me...I enjoy moving through the muscles...you head will swim in the feeling of being 'yummy'...as I ask you to roll over...you will try to wake out of the stress free zone...too late I am back to work...all the way around the body to finish up in the head and neck.

The greatest feeling in the world is helping a client rise to the sitting position and seeing the look on their face. I love what I do and feel it can be felt in every massage.

The question I get asked most often is: 'Is the hour really up?' Come tell me what you think....