Fighting Depression and Going to the Movies

The last several weeks have been difficult for this writer with MS.  It's normal to run into obstacles while trying to write, but sometimes those obstacles create other more serious obstacles that you may not realize are even there for a while.  In  my case, I didn't realize what was happening until I finally did something about the first obstacle.

I mentioned the little 3 day vacation that my wife and I took last month to Glenwood Springs and Aspen, Colorado.  That last posting was written on my laptop.  It was the last thing accomplished on said laptop.  My battery ran out of juice and because the charger had died, I couldn't even charge it.  The laptop became a symbol of failure.  Every time I looked at it, I wanted to write but knew that  I could not.  I began to get depressed without realizing that I was.  I get some off my inspiration while sitting on my porch and watching people and vehicles pass by.  A thought will spring up in my head and I will want to write about it.  My first thought is to get my laptop and sit here and write my inspiration.  Then, I'd remember,  I can't.  Depression was setting in.

I do have a desktop PC (no, I prefer a PC over Mac) and I would come inside to use it.   But the depression would come inside with me and all I could think about was how my laptop needed a charger.  I spent a lot of time over the next two weeks looking at AC adapters both online and at any store.  What I found online was several sites that offered replacements from $5 to $15.  However shipping charges were $25 to $30.  I could buy one locally for that much, but I couldn;t bring myself to pay that much.  There just had to be a better deal.

I didn't realize it but I was getting caught in this cycle of depression.  It must have snuck in during one of the days that I was having trouble with MS. Then a week ago I had an epiphany. Just order it online and get it over with.  I looked on a site I had not yet gone to and found one for under $20 with free shipping.  I bought it and waited.  It arrived on the third day and I was happy.

Suddenly, I felt my spirites lift and I started remembering things I had wanted to tell y'all.  Yes I typed y'all.  I'm from the south and proud of it.

So, today I felt like writing you guys.  I am partly stoked because of the movies I have seen recently.  I've seen some good movies and I am going to give my thumbs up to these; Hope springs, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, and the most recent one, The Words.

All were very good movies and each may deserve an Oscar nomination for one reason or another.  The one that influenced me the most, though, was  The Words.  It is about a man struggling to become a successful writer.  He meets with all the rejection and disappointment we all deal with and even though he chooses to do the wrong thing, somehow I felt the pain he was dealing with.

So, if you are looking for a good movie to go to, I suggest to you any one of these.  The stories are great and all actors performed admirably.  If you are a writer, like myself, I urge you to go see The Words.

My Vaction.....My Book is on Sale!

Hello everybody!  It is a beautiful day in Denver today.  I hope that wherever you are it is just as nice.  

So, let's do some catching up, shall we?  Since my last posting it has been pretty hectic around here.  I've managed to do more writing on my next novel (which at this time is still without a name).  It's a spy novel and I think you'll like it.  I hope to have it available this fall.

My wife is a teacher and today is the first official day of school for teachers in Denver.  Kids don't have to be there until next Monday, I think, but teachers have meetings to attend and classes that they have to take so that they can be up to speed on whatever it is that the district is doing this year.  In my opinion, teachers have to attend way too many meetings.  Last year they had a meeting that they had to attend at least once a week, sometimes two or three.  Is this really necessary?  

I'm fortunate to be retired now and I don't have to put up with anybody's nonsense any more.  When I was trapped by corporate America, though, I remember the countless meetings that I had to attend as well.  Very few were helpful or even necessary.  For the most part, they were a waste of time.  It actually made it more difficult for me to do my job. I think these things are more of an ego trip for many bosses.  I'm sure that it is no different in the teacher world.  I feel sorrow for my wife and all teachers who must endure this.

So, we took a little vacation this month.  It wasn't far, but it was out of Denver.  We drove through the mountains to Glenwood Springs, Colorado.  We arrived in time to check in to the hotel and go eat dinner at Juicy Lucy's Steak House where the food was phenomenal.  We returned to the Hampton Inn and fell in love with the bed.  We slept well though the night and until 2:30 pm the next day.  We must have been tired. We got up and drove to Aspen to see if there was anyone famous walking around but we did not see anyone.  Luckily, the news of my fame had not reached Aspen yet and we weren't bothered with paparazzi and the signing of autographs.

While we were there, I fell in love with Aspen. It is such a nice place that I can't even describe it.  I had decided that this was where we would retire too in a few years.  Then I pulled into a gas station to fill up.  Gas prices are through the roof!  At least $1.30 more than anywhere in the real world.  Maybe that  is how they keep low life like me from living there.  If this was an indication of the cost of living in Aspen, then you would HAVE to be a millionaire to afford it.  Aspen.  It's a great place to visit but I can't afford to live there.

I wish to thank everyone who took advantage of the free eBook giveaway last week. There have been 2 such giveaways this summer and approximately 1850 took advantage and downloaded the book an Amazon.  It makes me feel great knowing that I have so many people interested in my book, Rescue of the Heart.

In order to acquire more readers, I am announcing that the eBook is now on sale for 99¢!  So if you missed the giveaway, you can still get it for less than the price of a soda.  The sale will run though September 5, 2012.  Please don't miss this opportunity.    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008F050GG

That's all I've got.  Please stay safe and I hope you have a great day.