M. Update

Well, life has been just as crazy as ever. Amy's been plugging away at the books and is doing well on her studies to become a nurse. My new, old, job has slowed down from the craziness that super storm sandy brought... For now.

Between dance practice, wrestling practice, and matches our time has been filled in.

Recently I allowed myself to become obsessed with reading and finishing Game of Thrones - the first book of the Fire and Ice series by George R.R. Martin, which I absolutely loved. But, even my reading has been slow.

Which brings me to writing. Amy and I have been working on the old stuff, slowly, and are now talking about turning and old idea into a trilogy.

Amy suggested that before we think to even query or publish the first book, we should finish the last book. They are going to be intertwined and maybe we are going to want to add to the first or second as we write the third.

Have any of you ever tried this?

I hope everyone has been well. As always, sorry for not posting more often.

M. Luck!

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to pop by and let you all know.  We haven't been ignoring our blog, instead, life has been back to insane again.  But in a good way.

In the last week, I started at a new position up the road from home and it has made for quite a bit more traveling for us.  If that wasn't enough, we have the kids going to an activity four out of five week nights.  There just hasn't been time to stop in and blog.  Of course, like all things we do in our lives, it is just going to get worse (BETTER), Amy is also starting back at a new/old job.

So here I am, telling you that we are still around and still working on our 4th self published release.  It is just becoming more difficult to hit the blogging.  Not that that's a bad thing, we could use a stint of some good luck.

M. Celebrate the Small Stuff

A dream is nothing more than a step not yet taken.

Writers, above most others, are impossible dreamers.  We daydream and imagine worlds, characters, events, and lives that only exist in our minds and on the paper we write them on.  Have you ever thought of how amazing that is?

There are some people that we have met out there that have asked us, "Wow, how do you guys do that?"

The answer is easy, now that I think about it.  We decided to take that step and allow people to join us in our lives and the stories we tell.  It was always our dream to write, both of us.  Without even realizing it, we've allowed ourselves to become writers.

The other day, on Twitter, we had a writer that was just gettting started ask us a question.  It was the first time we were asked the question and it was a question we've both asked before.  "Do you have any advice for an aspiring writer?"

I had to laugh.  I think that we've asked many of you the same question and now in the driver's seat, I responded with the only answer that made sense.  I told him that he should just keep writing, no matter what.

It was the best advice that we've been given thus far and I figured, (Sorry Cliche Works Here) if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

We still have a long way to go, but today is one of those days where you sit back and reflect on how far we've already gotten.  I still see us as aspiring, sort of, but we aren't aspiring as much as we were aspiring when we started this blog.  Join us as we celebrate the small stuff, do you ever celebrate small accomplishments?

M. 2012

Here we are, 2012! It's already the third day of the year and we have already had some outstanding changes.

Well maybe not changes, but some nice signs of change.  After barrading the local papers with emails to their HR reps and trying to get more experience writing, I got a bite.  It looks like I will have the opportunity to do some freelance for a local paper and it is exciting.

If that wasn't enough, New Year's Eve, we had someone come out and look at the house to buy it.  They seemed to love it and we hope they will want to buy it.  If they do that, we get to move!

I am still looking for employment, but on New Year's Day, I received a call from a guy that worked for one of my old vendors.  Apparently, he is a consultant now and is pushing to get me a job in a few places.

If that wasn't enough, we have had more success with The Missing than any of the other books and just seeing books sell is exciting.

We both feel that 2012 is going to be our break away year.  It is going to be the year that we find success, whether it's with health, writing, careers, or financially - something is going to turn out great this year.

Here's to a great 2012, I hope that you all are having as great a year as we are so far!!!!

This has to be one of the cutest pictures that was ever taken with our camera.  This is our daughter Abbi, who you've seen before, reading to one of our twin nephews, Calob.  The best part of being a family that loves reading and writing is seeing our kids take on the same love for books.

Even better, is when one of our very own is passing down the tradition with "Twas the Night Before Christmas."  She has been reading the book, a few times a day, for the past few months and probably could tell the entire story without the book at this point.  She just decided that day, that her baby cousin needed to hear it.

I hope everyone has a blessed holiday and because we won't be posting tomorrow; MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

M. The Holiday Season

I am sure that all of you have heard the song called, THE HOLIDAY SEASON.  It goes like this:

It's the holiday season, so whoop-De-do and dickery dock....and don't forget to hang up your sock!

So have you ever heard it?  Well it has become our motto this year, at least the Whoop-De-do part.  Amy and I walk around the house, the store, and just about anywhere.  If one of us starts the song with: It's the holiday season, the other says So Whoop-De-Do!

Not that we both don't love the holiday season, it's just that this year sucks compared to what we are used to.  We have been doing our best to get into the XMAS spirit, but this year is a little harder then most.  The good thing is that this song has become therapeutic.

You would think that every time we say it, it would remind us of how much we aren't in the spirit, but the opposite effect is taking place.  Every time one of us says the Whoop-De-do, we get a smile on our face and feel somewhat better.  Kind of like a personal protest to letting it get to us.

I think in years to come, when life is going great and we are busy overdoing it during the holiday season, the song will come on and remind us.  Not of how bad this year was, but to appreciate what we have.  Because, even though life isn't what we want it to be right now, we have what's important; each other, our children, and our health.  The rest will follow.

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

Here is a holiday song and message from our kids, Cameron and Abbi, to you.  Enjoy... hope it helps with the holiday spirit.

P.S. Filmed with Amy's birthday present!

M. Happy Birthday.... To Amy!!!!!

Good morning writing friends,

I just wanted to take a moment and wish the love of my life a happy birthday!  That's right, today is Amy's birthday and she is 31 (Finally caught up to me).  I hope that I can make her day a great one and really hope she enjoys her gifts.

Stop in and wish her a happy day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY!!!

M. A Weed or a Flower?

The other night, my wife and I had to take our daughter, Abbi, to a class for her first holy communion.  It was more of a meeting – dinner included – and a presentation.   To say the least, the evening didn’t start off well and we will leave that for another story.

What struck us as important was, during the presentation, a Priest that neither of us has ever heard spoke.  Now for anyone that has ever been to church or a church function, you say, “Of course he spoke, they always speak.”  The difference was that this time I really listened.

It was more relevant to our situation than anything else we have heard lately that it made me wonder if there really is someone listening.  The main point that he brought was, “You have to embrace the bad times in life to be able to cherish the good ones.”

In a nutshell he was telling us all to take the good with the bad.  Not every moment in your life is going to be great; otherwise you would never recognize a great moment.

So what right?

In the past few years, life has been on a bit of a downward trend.  I became ill in March of 2010, got better for some time, got ill again, changed careers (Thinking I would have a job even when I was ill), lost my job, Amy and Cameron having surgery, and all of the insane life changes and moments that have been happening.

I sometimes feel that my life has been riddled with dandelions.  But, if you really think about it, what is a dandelion, other then a flower.  It’s bright, yellow, and gentle – some may call it a weed, but I am beginning to think that is what he was talking about.  Look at all of the weeds of life and see them as nothing more then a plant or a flower.

If I was to think of it that way, I would see, I became ill, but started writing with the love of my life, I was able to spend time with her unlike before.  I am able to see more of my children – play with them, read to them, do homework with them, see them, go to school plays, sporting events – because I am not stuck at work.

Even more so, I know that I have been ill, but lately I have felt much better.  I haven’t had any symptoms lately and feel and pray that this may have passed.

So, I have some beautiful flowers in my life right now and will take the time to enjoy how they look.  Yeah to the next guy, they may be the weeds of life, but to me they just make the lawn look prettier.

M. Cookie Day Again

For those of you that were with us last year, you know just how important Cookie Day is to me.  To all of our new readers, "IT IS COOKIE DAY!"  Get excited - it just puts us one step closer to Christmas (a very important step)!

Every year, Amy and her sister Tammy get together and do absolutely nothing, except for make Xmas cookies.  It's a family tradition that has been in place for longer then we have been married and one of my favorites.

I don't necessarily get involved in too much of the cooking making, I do in the cookie consumption.  But who can blame me, there are so many to choose from.  I am more of a pinch hitter that sits back and is only called in when needed.  My son and daughter, however, are both going to get their hands in the dough more this year than any other year.  They are both to an age where some of the work involved is going to fall on them to get their piece of the tradition.

The good news is that even though we are experiencing a tight year this year, unemployment, slow book sales, and bills that never desist - we are keeping our tradition alive.  I know that something great is going to happen in our lives soon, so why spend the rough times miserable.  Instead we are revealing in the fact that we have more time together then most people get.

I hope all of you have a great Sunday and holiday season.  Is there a family or personal tradition that is a must do for you during the holiday season?

REINDEER COOKIES!



SOMEWHERE UNDER THERE IS OUR DINING ROOM TABLE.

M. Evacuation

After work today, I spent the evening evacuating our home in Wildwood, NJ.  I have heard stories, predictions, and hypothesis as to what is going to happen.  But, I don't know what to believe.  The news keeps changing how bad it's going to be, but either way they say it is going to be bad.

As of tomorrow evening, Cape May County is going to shut down power to the entire region to avoid electrical fires and surges.  So following the suggestions to the county and town, we evacuated and we are heading up the road further tomorrow.

I don't know what is going to happen in the coming days, but I know one thing; we will be safe, well, and we will pray that when we come home there will be a home to come to.  I have to say that this has to be one of the most exhausting weeks of our lives.  I hope every stays well, safe, and dry.  Have a great weekend, we will let you know how we are doing when we are able.

M. Fingernails

I am blogging right now, just to give my fingernails a break.  Amy is currently in for a surgery and it has been about one hour and twenty some minutes.  The doctor said it would take about two hours, but I was starting to think that if I didn't do something else with myself, then I would be missing at least an index finger.

It's strange, I never know how anxious and neurotic that I can be, until I am forced to wait.  I am impatient, nervous, and a worrier.  I know that everything is fine and my subconscious is telling me to calm down, but no amounts or reading, The Corrections by Franzen is helping.  I probably should have brought a less controversial book with less talk of Xanex, alcohol, and all of the Franzen-like crazy ideas that he has.

Either way, at least I was able to vent out some feelings and release some of my frustration on all of you that will listen.  Thanks for stopping in, caring, and we will let you know how everything is once this is all done.  I hope all is well, again, thank you for letting me vent, Mike.

M. Everything New

To fill everyone in; aside from having to force Amy to drive extra miles in a day, I love my new job.

To put it in perspective, the company that I used to work for is a direct partner with the company that I work with now.

I feel slightly like a free agent that was placed with a league rival.  There is no reason for me to hate doing what I do, because it is the same thing, I am now just doing it for someone else.  The people that I once worked with are at the shop daily and I still see them, which is nice, but it is different now.  Maybe it's because I've gone to the "dark side."  Who knows.

All I know is that all of the anxiety that I was having about the decision has passed.  I feel, without a doubt, that I have made the correct decision and will be happy with my new found future.  Oh yeah, and we have to keep writing.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

M. Decided.

Well, as most of you had heard, I was in a small car crash a few weeks ago.  Mainly because of the obnoxious neurological issues that ail me on an intermittent, but now permanent basis. 

This can only be explained as a life altering situation.

So, what to do?

I finally decided to change my career.  It was a hard decision, but it was for the best.  For the past few years, I was an insurance adjuster, which required exorbitant amounts of driving.  As you can see, my ailment keeps me for at least a few weeks and months a year from doing my job.  It sucks, but I am stepping out of corporate America and going to work for a smaller business.  I will basically be doing the same job, but I will be in one location and starting, not from scratch, but over again.

It is a strange feeling and one that I haven't ever experienced.  I am happy to have a new job and the opportunity to still be able to work, despite my issues, but at the same time I am sad to close the door on a chapter in my life.  I loved the company that I worked for, the people I worked with, and the pride that I had every day.  It is going to be a tough adjustment, but now that it has been decided, it is the right decision.  I will go forward on Monday and learn to love a new company.