Deborah Woehr

In 1918, polite women didn’t walk into saloons to discuss ousting political figures. They didn’t have illicit affairs with a married man, much less a preacher. Myra Kelly did both these things.

While she didn’t succeed in getting self-proclaimed mayor, Seamus O’Flannery ousted from office, she did help Theodore Sonnet win the battle over the church he was building for the town of Prosperity. A mutual sexual attraction develops between Myra and Theo, which turns into a full-blown obsession when Theo’s family arrives in town.

Myra loses her job as a teacher after a nasty miscarriage betrays her affair to the O’Flannery clan. She is a marked woman now, but she is determined to get back at Theo for his deceit and the O’Flannerys for their treachery. Neither of these men know the boundlessness of her hatred until it is too late.

God’s Last Twilight is now available in both book and ebook format from my Lulu store. A big thanks to Michael and Sheila for their feedback about this story. You guys helped me make a decision that I’ve been pondering since I finished this story two years ago. I’ll send your copies in the mail soon.

Today is the first day of school for my boys. My husband called me an hour ago to tell me that he felt like an old man when he saw kids driving themselves to school. Yep. I felt that way two summers ago when I met cousins that I had never seen and who are now 20-something. After working with 20-somethings, I’ve come to accept and appreciate my age. Age and experience has its perks, too.

Anyway, my oldest is sitting in class right now while my youngest is still getting ready for his first day of junior high. Soon it will be very quiet in this house. My plans are to:

1. Go to the store
2. Get a newspaper (still job hunting)
3. Finish a scene I had started to rework yesterday for God’s Last Twilight.
4. Have what I want for lunch
6. Finish editing GLT so I can start designing the book tomorrow.
7. Finish the rewrite of another chapter in Prosperity.

Update: I finished the scene in GLT. The job prospects in the Bay Area are very low right now, which had me researching for writing-related careers. There are so many avenues for the writer today that it’s hard to figure out what I want to do. I’d like to do a little bit of everything. Perhaps I’ll get there eventually. Right now, I think it’s best to start off doing what I know how. With that, I’m going to work on my home page this week.

Both boys enjoyed their first day of school, although the youngest was upset over having homework on his first day.

Yesterday was supposed to have been my official quit day. Well . . . I didn’t make it. My mistake was having a cigarette when I first woke up, something I’ve done for 22 years. There were three left in the pack, so I thought, “Just smoke these three and then stop.”

Around 2pm, I called my husband out of desperation. I told him what happened. We both agreed that I shouldn’t have had that first cigarette. I heard him puff on his cigarette. I debated aloud whether I should just get in my car, drive to the gas station and buy a damned pack. In the end, that’s what I did. I bought the damned pack, stuffed it into my purse, and then hurried into the garage so I wouldn’t have to look at my youngest because I told him that I was going to stop not three hours before. I failed, but I realized why.

After smoking three cigarettes, I called my grandmother to wish her a happy birthday. We got on the subject of smoking. She is also a smoker, although a light one. Still, she wants to quit again but is having a hard time. I told her what I was taking. She’s going to make an appointment with her doctor to ask about this medication. One thing she mentioned to me was that she had noticed that I got winded a lot while I was down there visiting. That’s been going on for a while, and it’s a major reason why I want to quit.

I continued smoking for the rest of the afternoon and well into the night. Around 10:30pm, my husband and I were sitting in our respective chairs out in the garage, puffing away. I asked him to quit with me. He said okay. Then he proceeded to take my pack and crush it in his vise. It didn’t bother me to see that.

We returned to the living room. He was telling me that he had been kind of down and that perhaps one of the reasons was that he was going to have to quit soon. I told him that I had felt the same way. I was feeling okay in the beginning of the week. But as my “quit date” loomed, I became more anxious and depressed. Like I said before, once you start smoking, the cigarette becomes your friend . . . a very high maintenance one.

This morning I did not start the day with a cigarette. I dropped my youngest off at a friend’s house for the day, then took my oldest to the bookstore and out to lunch. For the first time since I can remember, I didn’t have the urge to run out of the restaurant after I paid the check so I could satisfy a craving. It felt so good just to sit there and have a conversation with my son.

I didn’t have any problem driving without having a cigarette in my hand. As soon as I pulled into my driveway, the cravings began. They’re moderate, compared to how I felt when I was using the Patch. The biggest challenge occurs while I’m sitting at the computer. I’m so used to getting up and moving to the garage. I won’t be doing that anymore.

As soon as we got in the house, I called my husband to see how he was doing. He had called earlier to tell me that his office stank and how grateful he was to find an empty pack on one of the presses. It’s going to be harder for him because he works with three smokers. That makes me glad that the weekend is coming. So far, he hasn’t had a single cigarette. I’m happy to report the same.

It’s that time again. School. My kids are dreading it. I’m dreading the homework sessions, but I got some great reference books that will help them (us) through math and science. Until I saw this set, I had yet to see a school textbook that has clear directions that both children and parents can follow. And, I’ve yet to find good examples and instructions for algebra, geometry and science online that are good for kids and the mathematically/scientifically retarded such as myself.

Back to the orientation. I’m hoping to make this one short and sweet. We’ll have to sit through the one on Wednesday.

I just finished watching a video and reading the accompanying article on Yahoo People about this guy named Phil Hansen. Before I saw this, I’d never heard of the guy and didn’t know that he had touched millions of people with his art. He used the Internet in his latest project to connect to his viewers, asking them to call or email him with a “moment that changed their lives.”

Hansen received over 600 responses from people all over the world. They were quite varied in emotional depth. Starting from the center of a 10-foot circular canvas, he painted their words, effectively turning the written word into his self portrait, bordered by four hands. After watching the video, I felt that this was the most touching piece and one that I wanted to share.

Some of his other works dabble in the macabre. My favorites were the portraits he did of the Ku Klux Klan and Rosa Parks, both of which are made up from thousands of verses of the bible, which he copied and individually cut out.

Phil’s website: Philinthecircle.com

I’ve set a quit date for my second attempt at quitting smoking. Yesterday, I experienced a little anxiety about starting and had to force myself to take the first pill. Part of it was wondering how mild or severe the side affects of taking Chantix would be. Another part of me was saying, “No, you don’t want to do this. You enjoy smoking. Cigarettes are your friends.”

I took the pill, and I’m going to take another. I’m having wild dreams and an unsettled stomach, but I’m fine otherwise. I’ve set a quit date for August 23. We’ll see how this works.

As of today, we’ve lived in our house for two years. My husband and I were remarking about how fast time flies as he was telling me his latest project for the house – gutting and redoing the master bathroom. That room has been in dire need of attention long before we moved into the place. We’re down to one bathroom for four people, which will be a challenge but doable. At least I don’t have teenage girls.

I spent the majority of Saturday reading and taking copious notes on ways to earn a living as a writer, since I’m still “in between assignments.” I’m not stressing about it anymore, but taking this time to enjoy the rest of the summer and finish the writing projects that have been ongoing for quite a while. I broached the subject of working part time to my husband on Friday, stating that I don’t want to have to rely on anyone to pick up my boys. He was agreeable. We both agreed that we’ll have to give up certain aspects of our lifestyle, such as fast food and smoking.

I’ve decided that I’m ready to take the plunge in quitting smoking. I had talked to my doctor about quitting about a year or so ago. She had written a prescription for Wellbutrin for me, which I never filled. I wasn’t ready then. I’ve set the appointment to get another evaluation and prescription. Now that I have two goals set, the quitting process will be easier (I hope).

Back to writing, my goal for this week is to finish the web content for my husband’s site. I have the rough draft for the home page complete. There were a couple of things he wanted removed, so we’ll be going over that as well as the other pages for the site. Once we finish that, all that will be left is design tweaks. Then comes the marketing.

The next item on my list is determining whether I want to redo my home page on this site to announce my writing services or set it up on another domain. During my Saturday reading, I learned that it was best to specialize in one or two things. You can offer a variety of services, but your potential customers need to know what you’re best at. I wrote a list of skills late last week and determined that I’m best at desktop publishing and copyediting.

The latter is tedious work, which I wouldn’t want to do full time. Desktop publishing is another story altogether. I love designing books, ebooks and marketing packages. I haven’t had much time to really delve into the CS3 programs, other than to gain a working knowledge. Now, I’ll need to make time, while building a decent portfolio.

I’m giving some serious consideration to resurrecting my Elance account, which I’ve had since 2003, in order to gain clients. If you can land the right assignment(s), then the cost of the membership will pay itself off. This happened to me the first year. I wasn’t so lucky the following year, mainly because my competition was all too willing to work for free. I still haven’t decided if it’s worth the bother.

A couple of you may be wondering if I have deserted my Lulu blog. I haven’t. I found myself at a standstill when I finished the last post on the Lulu publishing options. I’ve spent the last two weeks hemming and hawing over whether I should publish God’s Last Twilight. When I couldn’t make up my mind, I sent a copy to some readers early last week. Once I receive their feedback, I’ll make my decision. Then I’ll pick up where I left off.

My family and I have always enjoyed The Simpsons for its perverse sense of humor and Homer’s wild screwups. If you’re a fan, you’ll love this movie. The humor is a little bit more raunchier than you would see in the television shows, which to me made this movie all the more enjoyable. Watch the trailer to get an idea of what the plot is all about.

We have the A-List bloggers. Blogebrity has created a list of A- through D-List bloggers. I’ve just learned that Liz Strauss at Successful Blog has created a W-List, for Outstanding Women Bloggers. Do you have a favorite female blogger who should be added to that list? Pop on over to Liz’s blog and post your request.

You may have received this in your email from a friend or family member. If not, I’ll post it here.

Jay Leno puts it into perspective and makes us think about the pathetic negativity.

Jay Leno wrote this; it’s the Jay Leno we don’t often see….

“The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain’t happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ”What we are so unhappy about?”

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousa nds of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has
67 percent of folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don’t have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful peoples safe from terrorist attacks?

The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn’t take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?

Think about it……are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the “Media” told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful excuses every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn’t have to go.

They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ”general” discharge, an ”other than honorable” discharge or, worst case scenario, a ”dishonorable” discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by “justifying” them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn’t kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way……Insane!

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.”

“With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, “Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?”

Jay Leno

Please keep this in circulation. There are so many people that need to read this and grasp the truth of it all.