Mental Health Day: Revisited

This concept isn't really working out so much. I don't get much mental health out of it. I do end up having a small sense of accomplishment when I get some things done that I can't during the rest of the week. Like today, I have an alignment scheduled for my car. I had an oil change scheduled along with it until I found out that it was $42, so I canceled that and went elsewhere for my oil change (immediately across the street, in fact) and got it for $26. I don't much care what's better about the $42 oil change than the $26 oil change. If they remove the oil from my car and put new oil in, that's basically what I'm looking for. And if I can save $16 driving it across the street, so be it.

Ugh, and laundry. There is a never-ending mountain of laundry at my house. I think sometimes that my kids are under the impression that if they look at clothing, the clothing becomes dirty and must be washed, even if the clothing has not landed upon their body in any way. If they wear a pair of pajama pants for five minutes while walking from the bathroom down to their bedroom, they need to have those pajama pants washed. I don't understand this concept. I guess they learn the "sniff test" when they go to college, when they have to do laundry all on their own. "Is this dirty? *sniff* Nope. This? *sniff* YES!" And then there are the 5-8 towels we use per day, the extra towels right now because I have to give our fluffy dog a bath in anti-fungal anti-staph shampoo every day, gym clothes, blankets, pillowcases, blah blah blah. If ever I'm rich, I'm going to have a staff to do my laundry. Of course, by that time, it'll probably just be Steve and myself in the house, so it won't be that big of a deal. Speaking of which, I must take pause and go fold...

The point of this blog was for me to write. The point of reading 100 books this year was to force me to be more creative in my thinking, and put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and vocalize my thoughts. The point of "reinvention" was to stop living so negatively and focus more on the positives, the blessings I've been given. I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't reach 100 books. I'm still trying, but the writing has taken over the reading and if one was going to take over the other, that's exactly the order in which I wanted it to happen. I've found an outlet for my thoughts (at least most of them) and a few people who are interested in listening, which is nice. Thanks to all of you. I appreciate it.

My husband shared with me a link that he received in his email. It's through Barnes & Noble, and the news is (to me, at least) pretty exciting. They are publishing eBooks compatible with their Nook software (either the free online software or the eReader they sell) by any author, allowing us to set our own list price, and we receive 40-65% commission. There is no other way to make as much money off of something that came out of my brain than to do it this way. Even the book I already have published only receives 8% royalties, and 12% if it reaches 10,000 copies which I just can't expect anytime before the year 3010. My brain is full of short stories, so I'm compiling a book of these. I've finished a book already that I've been shopping around for a publisher for, and this is an even better deal so I'm revamping it and editing it once again before submission. I'll be posting on here once I finally do publish any of my works. For now, though... if you're not inclined to purchase a Nook eReader, at least download the software for FREE onto your computer? Pretty please? For me? Awww, thanks! (Pretend I inserted an adorable emoticon right here just for you.)

It's just about time to pack up my laptop and head for Monteith Tire to get my alignment. I'll do some more writing and editing while there. Then it's back home to vacuum the 85 pounds of dog hair once again and finish the Mount Salisbury of laundry that's piled next to my washer.

I wonder if I sell enough books if I can buy some mental health?

SJS