Long Time No See

So, there is something I've figured out as I've been working really hard to lose weight. Life keeps getting in the way. You can use it as an excuse and never accomplish your goals, or you can plow through the hard times and come out the other end. I'm trying really hard to plow through. Really. And I feel sort of successful, after all, I have almost three quarters of the play finished. And that is GREAT! And I'm really happy with the content overall, though it will require rigorous editing - but then what writing project doesn't!

And do you know what else I've discovered? You can't do it all alone!

So here's what happened since last we've talked - I've got two books out at two different publishers and am getting positive feedback, but still waiting for that magic word "contract" and have been doing some editing on those.

I've had a great opportunity arise to work on a children's story that is probably going to turn into a young people's symphony concert.

I've written three quarters of the Pain Diaries.

I've been overcome by another great idea that came to me as I drove the coast of Oregon two summers ago.

Plus I've worked a full time job and managed full time family issues.

Did you hear the one about my mother who was trying to move back to Canada from Mexico with her husband? They got stopped for about two months in California with some heart problems. Then, they got medical clearance to travel and three hours on the road they had a blow out which led to a devastating car accident. They had to be cut out of their car, mom was unconscious and it turns out she has about six fractures in her neck and is now trussed up for the next three months or so. I have to say, stuff like this really distracts me from writing - with the emotional toll it takes.

On top of that, I try really hard to maintain some balance and have a bit of a life. I'm still hoping to find lots of travel and friends and fun before I go, and maybe even love...

So I can't do it alone. I can't write a play, manage the project, raise the funds, run the workshops and man the blog. So I'm asking for help.

I'd like to find someone (or many someones) to help with the blog. We really want this to become in interactive forum for pain patients and caregivers, but we need a blog-master/mistress. I can't run this and maintain everything else...as I've already proven.

I would love to put together a fund-raising committee. We need to raise about $20,000 to run a successful workshop performance to polish the play. We probably need another $100,000 after that to stage a big opening gala and week or so run of the show. The great thing is that this would potentially raise about $200,000 in donations, which would go into pain programs/research. And the Calgary Health Trust will write tax deductible receipts for us for the project.

And if I can't get a team, then I'll still get it done, but a little slower and one task at a time.

So if you're out there and you think this is something you could help with, send a comment, which will magically arrive in me email box and let me know.

Otherwise, thank you all for being patient and don't give up - I haven't!

Deb