Hectic

I’m so happy today. I finally had some cracker bread and it tasted good. We haven’t bought potatoes yet, but it is only a matter of time. Yay! So, this week started off pretty hectic, as I have a ton of data to process for my brother, which will probably keep me busy until next week. The funny thing about doing data is the unpredictability of your workload. You can have one slow day and then the next day you have so much data to do that it keeps you busy for weeks.

Now that I’m back to working on such a large workload, the creativity kicks in. I’m thinking up new story ideas when I’m supposed to be concentrating on numbers. But I’m not mad at my creative side. Instead I’m welcoming her back with open arms. After all, I had missed her. She was playing hard to get, the tease.

Speaking of creative, I've started with my first round of rewrites for book two. It is slow, but I want to make sure that I’m taking the story in the right direction. So far, so good. I am definitely getting the feel for the book and its different than book one, but I think it’s good. I haven’t started tackling the large problems yet, but I will be getting to it this week.

So, what are you up to? Do tell…

Creative drought (IWSG)

This month I’m feeling very nervous and insecure. Why? I haven’t felt creative in a long time. I used to feel pretty good about my creativity and now not so much. I haven’t had any new, fresh or fun ideas. Aside for a little rewriting here or there, I haven’t written anything new in months. I know I just need some inspiration. But I fear that maybe I’m not a creative person. Maybe my writing ideas aren’t that original at all. Or maybe my depression is just messing with my mind, because I agreed to do another week of banting. Why-oh-why? My family begged me to hang in there with them. So maybe everyone should just ignore my insecurity about my lack of creativity. I haven’t had a carbohydrate in over a week, so my mood is in the dumps. Man, would I love a burger.

The Insecure Writers Support Group was created by the talented Mr. Alex J. Cavanaugh, so that writers can share their insecurities and/or encourage others who need support with their own. You can visit Alex Here, or if you want to join us in discussing our insecurities on the first Wednesday of each month, you are welcome to join by going Here.

Banting drop-out

This has been a week of hell. Even though I lost 3 kg on this eating plan, I felt like crap the entire time. So, I decided not to do banting anymore, even though my family is still continuing on with it. I will be trying another health plan, one that includes more fruit and I'll still be avoiding the refined and junk foods. But at least I can eat a potato again. Yay!

I've been doing all kinds of diets since I can remember and what I learned is that you have to choose a plan that you can follow long term. I would never be able to do banting forever. The past week I've been craving all the bad foods, which means the first time I get to cheat, I'll end up eating more than I normally would and would most definitely head for the bad foods. Also, banting played havoc with my moods. My depression reared its ugly head again and I had another episode.

Me and my family have struggled with our weight since forever. But I will be turning 30 next year and I want to shed some weight before then. Or at least look and feel healthier. Not to mention that me and exercise need to get re-acquainted. Did you know I was a dancer? I did ballet and modern dance and when I got to college I stopped and obesity set it. Unbelievable, I know.

Have you ever struggled with your weight? Got any health tips for me, please?

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

I have recently been nominated for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award by the wonderful Deanie Humphrys-Dunne. Thank you Deanie. 

The rules for accepting this award are as follows:

1. Thank the person who nominated you, and link to their blog.

2. Display the award logo.

3. Nominate at least 15 other blogs (more or less) and provide a link where they may be found.

4. Then, go to their blog, leave a comment to let them know they have been nominated, and   where to find the information they need to accept (rules).

5. Mention three things that inspired you the most during the past few weeks.

As always, I'm not going to pick favorites. I nominate everyone who leaves a comment. You deserve it. 

Three things that have inspired me are my family, my blogger friends and the online community. When you have so many wonderful people in your life it is hard not to feel inspired and grateful. 

My relief, hunger and rewrites

My boy taking his nap

Relief

My boy is back to his hyperactive-self and driving me crazy, which I love. His final blood work came back and confirmed that he indeed does have Addison's disease, but since taking his medication he is so much better. Thank you to everyone who wished me and him well.

Hunger

My family and I started the real meal revolution program today (Banting) and I'm starving. No carbohydrates, refined foods, junk food, sugar and so forth. But you are allowed to eat animal protein, veggies and fats like butter, avocado's and so on. I'm really grumpy today because I love potatoes and now I can't have any. Urgh! But the first few days are always the worst, right? I can do this!

Rewrites

I had intended to start on my second book's rewrites last week, but when I read through the first few chapters, there were a lot of things I had to think through first. Like the feel of the second book wasn't what I wanted. I didn't like how the story was unfolding or the voice with which I wrote it. I also had to decide on the level of romance I wanted in my book. I want to keep the love scenes classy, yet entertaining, so I had to do a lot of thinking. Book two continues with the same characters from book one, which had originally been one 145 000 word novel. So I wanted the style and feel to carryover to book two and it didn't. But I can work it out. I just have to get my head clear.

How are you doing?

I should be more interesting

I am feeling very lazy. I can always blame January for it. I have been wrecking my brain about what I can do to make my blog posts for this year more interesting, but I guess I'm just a boring person. 

Having said that, I've been thinking about doing more than just writing. Writing used to be my hobby and for the past few years it has definitely become more than that. I have been thinking of taking up crafting for fun. Most of my fellow bloggers and writers are parents, spouses, jugglers of day jobs, entrepreneurs and so forth and I just write. I want to be able to talk about more than just writing. It would definitely give more balance to my life. 

I am getting ready to tackle the rewrites on my second book in the Thelum Series and in truth, it's a mess. I had left it at the second draft and it definitely needs a few more. See! Boring right? 

Do you sometimes feel like you're boring too? 

Best day

I can honestly say that Friday was one of the best days of my life. My family and I started off the morning with a sparkling wine breakfast and later in the day they took me to our local Chimp Haven and Lion Park. I was humbled and in awe of the beautiful creatures. All the animals were rescued from horrible circumstances and are living out the rest of their lives in captivity. It might sound cruel to have them in captivity, but I think it is better than the alternative of ending up on someone’s wall. Not to mention that these days lions end up in canning facilities, where they are bred and killed for sport.

When people hear I'm from South Africa, they always ask me if lions and all kinds of wild animals run around in our streets. Of course I roll my eyes, but I understand to some people South Africa is still a very mysterious place. To answer the question, no, wild animals do not run around in our streets. South Africa is modern and these days the only wild animals you will see in their natural element might be a few snakes or cockroaches and birds of course. If you want to see things like "The Big Five" you will have to go to a wildlife reserve or game farm. 

On another note, I worked until the early morning hours the whole weekend and the past two days to finish my last portion of editing, which I completed this morning. I am so relieved. The next changes I make will hopefully come because an editor found faults for me to fix. I’m officially done butchering my novel. It only took me six years to get to this stage. Thank you to everyone who helped and encouraged me to get here.