I've got to get my body back

It's the end of the month. Time to share my feelings with you in rhyme. Lately I've been struggling with osteoarthritis in my knees. It was brought on by what I thought would be a minor surgery about a year ago. The surgery was minor, repairing a torn meniscus, so the doctor did not prescribe any physical therapy for me. That, I realize, was the begining of a downhill march of my overall health. A lot of other factors have been involved. But all in all, I can blame those factors no longer. If it is to be, (my health), it is up to me. I've got to get my body back.

I’ve got to get my body back
Why did I ever let it go,

chowing down on junk food

as I watched my waist line grow?

Breaking the cardinal rule

of eating late at night,

I snacked on fatty foods

and felt my insides fight.

I used to be quite active

in a younger day.

Why did I think I could stop

and keep the pounds away?

It must have to do with age;

a menopausal thing.

My brain went out on strike,

while my body took a fling.

My brain moved my fingers forward

to the donuts and the chips,

while it told my knees they hurt

so my exercising slips.

By the time I’d solved the riddle

of why I felt so bad,

age had won the battle,

destroying the body I once had.

So I’ve got to think and move,

and eat a whole lot better.

Not just to look and fit

good in last year’s sweater.

But to have the strength I need

to accomplish all my dreams,

and enjoy my golden years

without running out of steam.

I can no longer blame my knees;

how they hurt me when I walk,

or try to blame my food,

or my family or the doc.

Neither can I blame

the effects, or lack, of time.

If I want to get my body back,

the responsibility is mine.

LDStorymakers Conference: You gotta go to this one.

Last year I attended my first LDStorymakers conferencce. I loved it!. I came away with a lot of new writing friends via Author's Incognito. A.I. is a chat group of author's that have not yet been published--but are all working toward that goal. Their comments, knowledge and support have been invaluable to me over the last year. Unfortuantely, I have not met many of these people in person. They are only a thumbnail sized face at best (from their blogs or facebook), in my brain. I am looking forward to this years' Storymakers conference so that I can meet these people in person.

So if by chance, you are these wonderful fellow writers that I have never met but correspond to you via AI or facebook, and you are coming to the conference, please knock me down in the hall and say "hi" if you happen to read the name "Carolyn Frank" on one of those attendee badges.

Jazzing up my blog

I'm sure you couldn't help but notice, I finally added my own customized header and got rid of the off-the-rack, New Roman Times set of letters. (Hardly befitting the title they bore). If you have a minute, tell me what you think. Is it too much? Do you prefer the simpler version of the past? Or do you like it. I was trying to come up with something that said "me."
If you didn't like it because you don't like things loud and far from demure, well, then, you probaly won't want to meet me in person.

Have a fun, creative day.  They're the best!

A Penny's Worth of Thought

A penny for my thoughts? That’s about all they’re worth, but I’ve decided to share them anyway. So on occasion you will be warned they are coming by means of the banner above.

Friday evening my husband and I visisted some old friends in Springville. We went there so my husband could help them and their two married sons do their taxes. While the men attacked the distasteful task of sorting through receipts and records around the dining room table, us women cuddled up on the couch of the family room and delved into the blissful subject of blogging. (I know that was hardly fair, but . . . who cares? We've washed enough dirty dishes and changed enough disgusting diapers to compensate). During this delightful discussion, these woment encouraged me to share more of my personal thoughts and musings with others via my blog.

I liked the idea, for I do have a lot of fired-up thoughts rattling around in my brain. Back in high school I had my own column in the school paper called Carolyn’s Corner, where I thouroughly enjoyed editorializing topics that left burrs under my collar.

I must admit, I love to ponder. Pondering, after all, is like a key that opens our minds to the whisperings of the Spirit. And it is through those “ah-ha” moments in our thoughts that a conduit is opened up down to our hearts, channeling in tid-bits of truth that are like sprinkles of Accent, (you know—that meat tenderizer). Yes, truths received in this manner softens our hearts. But one might arugue that it takes a soft heart, as opposed to a hard heart, to be able to hear those promtings in our mind.

So here is the million dollar question, or in the case of this blog post, the one cent question--or thought:: which comes first, the open, pondering mind or the soft heart when it comes to receiving the whisperings of the Spirit?

Book Review: The Maze Runner, by James Dashner

This is a good read for your or your older kids if they like sci-fi-dystopia and a fast action page turner. The book caught me on the first page and kept me reading though the end, resenting the times I had to put it down to do other things.

Simply put, it's about a group of boys that have their minds wiped and get stuck inside a labyrinthine maze that's impossible to solve. There's only one safe spot--an acre in the center--that closes off every night. Every day when the boys wake up, the walls have changed and the maze is different. For years they've tried to think their way out of it and have made little to no progress.

I was slightly disappointed with the ending. Maybe it was because I was hoping that the characters I had learned to care for would be getting out of their dystopic environment and move on to a happier place and ending. Just the opposite. Of course this opens the way for Dashner's sequel, The Scorch Trials. Perhaps my disappointment came because I'm not a real fan of dystopic novels. But they do seem to be a big trend in Y.A. right now.

Because of its genre there were several instances of death befalling the characters in grizzly ways. Though indepth details weren't given (thank heavens), I don't think the novel is appropriate for younger kids (10 or younger).

If you are looking for a novel that makes you think; contemplate the universe, etc., this isn't the book. But if you want a fun read that keeps you on the edge of your seat, then I definately recomend this book.

Valentine Cookies to die for.

For years my kids, and their friends, have devoured my sugar cookies and begged for more. They have come to expect them every holiday. (Okay, maybe not groundhog day or flag day). So I decided to share my tried and true recipe with you for my mid-month make-something madness. I realize its not quite the middle of the month yet, but I wanted to put this post out a little early so you will have time to make these for your sweet heart. Or just anyone with a sweet tooth. Now if you're the kind of person that perfers the super sweet, flat-flavored, pasty-type sugar cookie, this recipe might not be for you. This cookie is the kind that melts in your mouth, soft and savoury, with that hint of buttery twange that tantalizes your taste buds and manipulates your hand to reach for more.

Just a little hint to make them better. Bake and frost them a day ahead and place them in an air tight container overnight. I bet you never thought making good cookies was like making good wine. (Not that I've ever made wine--except one time by mistake with a poorly sealed bottle of homemade grape juice). The moisture from the frosting fusses in with the cookie, along with its flavor, making the cookie softer and more flavorful.

Give them a try. You'll not be sorry.

CAROLYN'S SUGAR COOKIES:  makes aproximately 3 1/2 dozen 4" cookies

2 cups butter (softened)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
Cream above ingredients together and then add:
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
Mix together and then roll out aprox.1/4" thick
 (cab be done immediately w/o needing to chill)

Bake at 350 degrees for aprox 11-12 min. depending on size of cookie.
Bake until you see the first signs of brown on the edges.
Cool and frost with buttercream frosting.

FROSTING
1/4 cup butter (soft)
1/4 cup sour cream
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
Mix together until smooth. Add food coloring, frost cookies and ENJOY!

Book Review deleted

Sorry readers. Last night I posted a review on a most awesome middlegrade book that I just finished. Unfortunately, I was told by the author, Matthew Kirby--a good friend and member of my critique group--that I could blog about his book yet. So I removed it. Scholastic has not yet okayed it to be blogged about, as its release date is not until the first of October. I guess I was so excited about it, after having read it, that I just wanted to blab about how good it was and I kind of forgot that Matt had mentioned something about not talking about it yet. Luckily I don't have too many followers on my blog, so hopefully I won't mess up their marketing plans.

But keep your eyes open later in the year so I can tell you about this wonderful book and its talented local author.