Update from Home

It’s been close to 2 weeks since I arrived back from Smithers and I must say I’ve been enjoying it.  After 28 days of rain in Smithers I haven’t seen another drop – the weather hasn’t always been warm and sunny all the time but there has been absolutely NO rain whatsoever and I have enjoyed the change.

After 28 days of absolutely NO exercise since the campground was right on the main highway, I have been out and about every day.  When I’m not walking to the grocery store, bank, coffee shop to meet friends, library or the new Surrey Arts Council building or just up and down the 4 flights of stairs in the building I have been in our swimming pool with a minute or two in the hot tub.  I feel that I did my body a GREAT disservice by not moving around enough and I’m certainly paying for it with many aches and pains in my joints, although minor for many years have now become major.  I definitely won’t do that again.

I have been out bead shopping with my lunch/picture taking/fellow crafter and dear friend Edith a couple of times and spent half an afternoon at Staples getting our pictures cut in half, gluing and laminating…..all preparing for the beading portion of the project.  Our next get together is to do some bead work although I have been beading a couple of bookmarks every night.  I uploaded a bunch of beaded bookmark pictures to my Facebook and have received a bunch of oohs and ahhs.

Since I’ve been home I’ve heard back from Chicken Soup for the Soul and my story He Shoots He Scores has been accepted for an upcoming book called O Canada.  That book will be out in the big scary world on November 1st.  Can’t wait.  I also sent 2 stories off to a contest for the Surrey Arts Council and have been editing my Mini Read on Greece.  I definitely want that Mini out about the same time as the Chicken Soup Book.  Next Tuesday is my first writing group meeting since returning.

I have joined other residents for coffee, pub night, a hymn sing and last night was a hamburger dinner and a Singalongs right here in our complex.  Besides several writers living here there are many with musical talent and everyone seems to enjoy sharing.  Each year that goes by I enjoy this place more and more…..when I’m not out in my camper, of course.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  Good to be home.  Joei