For the last several months, I’ve been working on my book. Still a ways to go before it will be ready for editing.
36 Views of St. Sheila: A Memoir
All posts by Peg McNichol
Perfection and promises
I promised myself I’d update this site by … January? That was my New Year’s resolution.
And here we are, on March 2, 2017, with the same old site. Change often takes place out of sight.
Even as this page remained static, I’ve been busy working — in some cases for private clients because this site does not pay my bills. In other cases, I’ve been creating content and supporting documents for two book projects.
One book has been in the works for (drum roll, please) more than 20 years. Because it’s a memoir, I had to make some changes within first. And, because it will be my first book, I’ve had to get past the notion that it may be the worst book, ever.
As a result, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about failure and getting comfortable with the notion of having zero guarentees as ot hte outcome.
Because perfect is the enemy of good, I’ve been writing the book itself. It will probably be terrible but at least it will be done.
Bouchercon lessons
Earlier this month, I had the good fortune to attend the Annual World Mystery Convention’s annual reader-author conference, better known as Bouchercon.
Being both reader and writer, I veered between those roles in my attentiveness to authors talking about why and how they wrote their respective books (in many cases, series of books).
Here are a few tips I picked up on the writing life — something I’m working on daily with intermittent success:
- Good writers read regularly and aren’t afraid to read a wide spectrum of genres.
- Every writer has his or her own process, but: having a writing routine is an essential building block.
- Figuring out what process works for you can involve testing and rejecting patterns — up early and writing before anything else happens (a la Elmore Leonard); or waiting until the family is asleep and grabbing 15 minutes on weeknights, a few hours stolen from each weekend; or something in between.
- Whatever you write needs, like bread, a period of rest and inattention before editing begins.
- The best work is well-edited. In the words of so many editors and Stephen King: “Kill your darlings.”
- Editing is a process best left until you finish what working writers refer to as “the shitty first draft.”
- If you don’t start writing, you’ll have nothing to edit and nothing to publish.
- Done is better than perfect.
- You’ll never satisfy every reader. In fact, you’ll probably disappoint or even offend some or all. Write anyway.
Oh, SNAP, Part II: 12 items or less
Let’s start with the idea that most people have some food in their cupboards. My pantry has five pounds of flour, basic baking ingredients, coffee, two half-empty boxes of raisins (regular and golden); an unopened box of Cheerios, a bar of semi-sweet baking chocolate (purchased on sale a few weeks back). Other items: three cans of fruit; three tins of fish; two cans of pureed pumpkin; two boxes of dried pasta, a large container of plain oatmeal; a nearly empty container of honey (need to look for some on sale); corn meal, olive oil and assorted spices.
Some of those items can be used for meals over the next week.
My latest purchase includes one gallon of milk; one pound of unsweetened butter; two dozen eggs; 32 ounces of plain yogurt; five oranges; two pints of blackberries; six mini-bananas; four cucumbers; a handful of yellow squash; and a bag of limes. Total cost $18.80 — aided by most of the fruit being marked down for quick sale.
Focusing mainly on the latest purchase, here are my plans:
1: Fruit salad with some of the mini bananas, two oranges, some blackberries & 1/2 to 3/4 cup yogurt for protein, a dash of powdered ginger.
2: Scrambled eggs, using a tablespoon of milk and some diced zucchini, seasoned to taste.
3: Salad: hardboiled and diced eggs with lettuce, cucumber, zucchini (Enough for 4 servings without using up every ingredient).
5: Lime curd (can be used to flavor & sweeten the plain yogurt or in the fruit salad or on toast. It’s yummy!)
6: Low-sugar Limeade OR will use a plain slice or two to perk up my daily 32 ounces of tap water. Maybe both options, having quite a few limes.
7: Blackberry jam. A very small batch, since I’m using just two of the four half pints purchased.
8. Egg salad — I don’t have any mayo (so expensive!), but I do have the eggs and in the cupboard, oil, vinegar and dry mustard. Homemade tastes better and takes 10 minutes.
9. Sourdough French toast. I have some leftover slices of bread from last week’s groceries, enough to make several meals’ worth of French toast. Whatever I don’t use in the next day or so will go into the freezer for some lazy Sunday morning.
Remaining fruit will be used for snacking, as breakfast garnishes or mixed with 1/2 to 3/4 cup plain yogurt & whatever spices I want (ginger or cinnamon or nutmeg, etc.).
Why a whole gallon of milk? I like to put some milk in my morning coffee and usually drink a glass of milk at lunch and bedtime — partly for the Vitamin D & calcium, but mostly because milk tastes good.
Oh, SNAP: A $20 grocery challenge
Ever since Gwyneth Paltrow got into hot water earlier this year for attempting the SNAP challenge, I’ve tried some extreme-grocery budgeting. (While I don’t think she did such a terrible job — too many cities are effective food deserts for low-income families, who have little to no access to fresh fruits / vegetables.)
Today a childhood friend shared some of her fiscal challenges, which included trying to get decent groceries. I told her I could spend $20 and get enough fresh fruits and vegetables for a few meals, along with some other groceries.
“How do you eat? WHAT do you eat?” she said.
Tonight, I showed her, hauling in 12 items: a mini-banana bunch; a gallon of milk; a handful of summer squash, four cucumbers; five oranges; two pints of blackberries; two dozen eggs; 32 ounces of plain yogurt; one pound of unsalted butter and, in honor of Ms. Paltrow, a bag of limes.
A photo of what the groceries looked like and how they’ll be used in the next blog post.
Dogs versus cats, or something like that
One of the more spirited conversations at Wednesday’s Holland City Council study session revolved around a proposed update to limits on dog and cat ownership.
Currently Holland’s ordinance limits households to two dogs older than four months (to allow for puppies). The city has no such limit for cats.
But complaints from residents about their neighbors has sparked a drive to cap cat ownership. Holland Police Officer Mike Murphy told city council members one resident has at least 10 cats and may be feeding feral visitors. The wild cats are messing up neighbors’ property, which led to complaints.
With no existing cat limits, police have no way to address cat complaints (unless there’s an obvious abuse or hoarding situation).
Holland’s Public Safety Director Matt Messer told the board he researched similar cities and found limits of up to three adult dogs and five cats. He suggested a 5-pet rule, with a limit of three dogs per household. City council members indicated that there are probably already people with three dogs and raising the limit could lead to more people owning as many as four dogs. Some on the council seemed OK with a 2-dog, 5-cat limit.
Messer said police officers would work with owners of more than five cats — basically they’d be grandfathered in if the current pet ordinance is amended.
Council members will likely hear a first reading of the proposed ordinance at their July 1 meeting, which allows time for the legal language to be crafted and notice of a public hearing to be published.
Check out the complete background packet on the city’s website. I tweeted highlights via @IndiePeg.
How many dogs are too many? What’s the highest number of cats you or your neighbor should own?
Winter won’t break me
I admit West Michigan’s consistent below-zero temperatures and/or wind chills, the relentless snow, exponential heat bills and, of course, this week’s inception of a late-season sneeze-y cold have nearly gotten to me.
But not quite.
One doesn’t grow up in a Continue reading Winter won’t break me
Reflecting on and planning for the Affordable Care Act
I find this season, and especially this time of the Wolf Moon and presumed new beginnings, a great opportunity for reflection, recalibration and re-dedication to my various life goals.
How about you?
This week, I’m delving into insurance, figuring out how to incorporate some Affordable Care Act health insurance plan into my life.
Friends and family who’ve independently purchased health insurance policies have shared their experiences and opinions on this process, opinions ranging from enthusiasm for the cost and benefits of these plans to outrage over prices and limits of coverage.
One barrier I’m seeing (after the money part) is lack of information.
What do policies cover and what do they not?
What does each plan actually cost?
I expect to complete the process today and will let you know about my experience.
In the mean time ~ have you signed up for health insurance via the ACA? What was your experience?
P.S.
After several tries with the website, I’ve decided to ask for some help using the phone. I’ve not been able to see how to compare specific benefits in one plan with another to evaluate which would be the most appropriate. Instead, I’ve been directed to various proprietary websites, where I’ll need to scroll through a PDF.
The best possible outcome in healthcare, whether insurance applications or information exchanged during doctor visits, requires a persistent consumer.
Planning and Solitude
More than 20 years ago, I received a planning notebook/calendar as a gift. The sophisticated notebook came with an audio tutorial for new users.
One of the first lessons: Set aside time at the beginning and end of each day for planning and solitude.
In recent months, I’ve followed this morning-evening practice more consistently than ever.
Silence and reflection produce remarkable insights. In reviewing notes jotted on the pages over the years, I see growth as well as patterns, habits, if you will, which could yet be changed.
Christmas gratitude
Some folks today are surrounded by family. Others ~ many, many others ~ are on the job and often unseen, working for our safety, health, comfort, convenience or entertainment.
Some volunteer their time, some are well-paid. Others are scratching out a living, doing the best they can, or earning what they can to pay college tuition, for themselves their kids or grandkids.
I created a list of these kinds of jobs, so I could pause throughout the day to appreciate the gifts of others’ time. Join me in acknowledging: