Thanks for checking in,....
"What's going on with the blog? There's no entries, no Foto Friday,...."
Okay, okay. I realize I've been a bit absent - but with good reason.
About a month ago I sent off an excerpt (a short manuscript) of Hannah's story to a publishing company that I had come across on the internet. I wanted to find a publisher with a Christian foundation and I think I did just that. Tate Publishing has read the manuscript and is willing to publish a book with me.
To be honest, it was a little overwhelming to receive an actual contract, but since that point, I've been busily writing. There hasn't been a great deal of time for blogging between the book and writing papers for my class, I feel tapped out with writing.
As things progress with the process of making a book I should know more about the release date. The publishing company did mention book signings in our area. I was hoping to have at least one book signing somewhere in Hawaii. Of course, everyone will have to travel with us for the book purchase.
next stop - Oprah perhaps.
We head back to Mayo in November for scans.
Signed Copies for Sale. Read information on left side panel below.
For further details email us at Hannahk2021@gmail.com
Monday, October 27, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Gwum-Key
It's about football and food.
"When is the game coming on?"
"What should we have to eat?"
I was curious,... after all, I had just gotten out of bed and these are the things I needed to know for my first Saturday off since the beginning of the football season and the beginning of Sam's tennis - who wouldn't be excited?
Sam and his teammates wrapped up their tennis season at the state tournament in a strong fashion. They ended 4th in the state. It was Sam's first experience playing at this level of win or go home. He and his partner, Alex, made a run to the quarter finals before dropping to the number 1 ranked squad. Yet, it was the conversation before the match and after that I will remember most.
"Holy cow, are these guys good," Sam had been watching the competition prior to the quarter final match. "We are so dead." It was a simple statement but said so much.
Trying to be the positive dad I was able to give Sam some pointers, "Hey look,... that guy hits the ball into the net just as hard as you."
"Shuttttt it," was Sam's retort.
My effectiveness as a motivational speaker was lacking some. I decided to try another approach. "Look at it this way, they are expecting to kick your butt. You're freshman. Maybe they will be over confident," I shot a smile, but it was returned by a look of get as far away from me as possible.
The match went better than expected with some hard shots back and forth, yet points slowly fell to the opponents as they edged out Sam and Alex. When Sam finished and sat down in the chair next to me I could see the steam rolling out of his ears.
"Mad, huh?" I attempted to poke the bear.
"What do you think?" Sam gave me the teenage response with tone-a-tude.
"I think if you didn't think you could beat these guys, you wouldn't be so mad. I think you realized when you were out there that, while they may be good, you realized that you're pretty good yourself. I think,..."
"Okay, I got it!" still mad, but he got the point.
Next year - Beyond the Quarter Finals.
Peace and Prayers
Time to go eat Gwum-key and watch more football.
"When is the game coming on?"
"What should we have to eat?"
I was curious,... after all, I had just gotten out of bed and these are the things I needed to know for my first Saturday off since the beginning of the football season and the beginning of Sam's tennis - who wouldn't be excited?
Sam and his teammates wrapped up their tennis season at the state tournament in a strong fashion. They ended 4th in the state. It was Sam's first experience playing at this level of win or go home. He and his partner, Alex, made a run to the quarter finals before dropping to the number 1 ranked squad. Yet, it was the conversation before the match and after that I will remember most.
"Holy cow, are these guys good," Sam had been watching the competition prior to the quarter final match. "We are so dead." It was a simple statement but said so much.
Trying to be the positive dad I was able to give Sam some pointers, "Hey look,... that guy hits the ball into the net just as hard as you."
"Shuttttt it," was Sam's retort.
My effectiveness as a motivational speaker was lacking some. I decided to try another approach. "Look at it this way, they are expecting to kick your butt. You're freshman. Maybe they will be over confident," I shot a smile, but it was returned by a look of get as far away from me as possible.
The match went better than expected with some hard shots back and forth, yet points slowly fell to the opponents as they edged out Sam and Alex. When Sam finished and sat down in the chair next to me I could see the steam rolling out of his ears.
"Mad, huh?" I attempted to poke the bear.
"What do you think?" Sam gave me the teenage response with tone-a-tude.
"I think if you didn't think you could beat these guys, you wouldn't be so mad. I think you realized when you were out there that, while they may be good, you realized that you're pretty good yourself. I think,..."
"Okay, I got it!" still mad, but he got the point.
Next year - Beyond the Quarter Finals.
Peace and Prayers
Time to go eat Gwum-key and watch more football.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
When Won
It's been a whirlwind past two weeks as Sam wrapped up a conference tennis tournament with a second place,... then on to the Regionals where he and his partner Alex swept the 4 doubles and took the championship! The rest of Sam's teammates,... well, they all swept their flights to win Regionals. Next stop,... STATE!
Hannah had a milestone of her own over this weekend. "Dad! You'll never believe it!" came the phone call.
"Oh no,.. please tell me that you didn't break a perfect streak. Streaks are so hard to keep going," Hannah's team (5-6th grade girls basketball) had struggled a great deal over the season and had yet to win a game.
"We did. We won our first game," you could hear the relief in her voice. "The game took two and half hours to play and we had five overtimes and I never came out I was so exhausted!"
I was exhausted after hearing it. For a youth basketball game, which plays 6 minute quarters, 150 minutes seemed a little unbelievable - but it was true.
Hannah had a milestone of her own over this weekend. "Dad! You'll never believe it!" came the phone call.
"Oh no,.. please tell me that you didn't break a perfect streak. Streaks are so hard to keep going," Hannah's team (5-6th grade girls basketball) had struggled a great deal over the season and had yet to win a game.
"We did. We won our first game," you could hear the relief in her voice. "The game took two and half hours to play and we had five overtimes and I never came out I was so exhausted!"
I was exhausted after hearing it. For a youth basketball game, which plays 6 minute quarters, 150 minutes seemed a little unbelievable - but it was true.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
6 Letter Word - Budget
The fixed income. Hate it, like it, live it, blow it.
Kim and I have been involved in the Dave Ramsey mode of finance where you actually do a budget. Piece of cake. I can make numbers jump columns, the poor become less poor, and an eraser sing as it goes across the spreadsheet for the Nth time. It's a work of art by the time I'm finished: "Honey, get the frame, polish the glass,...... this baby is ready to be displayed, admired, and,....." well that's about it. The follow through seems to lack a little pizzazz.
Case in point: The little light in the vehicle comes on telling me that something is in need of attention. Not a problem - my way of assuring myself that I'm not about to get the 'Mechanic Special' by Mr. Wrench (the 2nd cousin twice removed from the more famous Mr. French - who, without a doubt made some nice coin for what he did). Well, a half of an Ellen Show and some local news in the hospitality lounge of the mechanics garage,... and I'm walking away with ONE IMPOSSIBLE FINANCIAL BUDGET. Oh sure, I could fudge the numbers once again, but that would require the removal of glass, the taking apart a thing of beauty. Who wants that? No one - right?!
So as I'm driving away from my cash-ectomy, I find myself really quite angry that this fine establishment has my money,...my budget,... but the worst part was, as I glanced down at the dashboard I find the ultimate "In Your Face" - the check engine light is still on! They did all the extra work to the vehicle, charged me a ton of money, but apparently it wasn't enough for the light to shut off. At this point what is there to do? I'll tell you,... you live it. Sometimes you live it to the best situations, and sometimes you just live 'It'. Today, I'm going to live it. Hopefully, tomorrow,.. I don't blow it.
Kim and I have been involved in the Dave Ramsey mode of finance where you actually do a budget. Piece of cake. I can make numbers jump columns, the poor become less poor, and an eraser sing as it goes across the spreadsheet for the Nth time. It's a work of art by the time I'm finished: "Honey, get the frame, polish the glass,...... this baby is ready to be displayed, admired, and,....." well that's about it. The follow through seems to lack a little pizzazz.
Case in point: The little light in the vehicle comes on telling me that something is in need of attention. Not a problem - my way of assuring myself that I'm not about to get the 'Mechanic Special' by Mr. Wrench (the 2nd cousin twice removed from the more famous Mr. French - who, without a doubt made some nice coin for what he did). Well, a half of an Ellen Show and some local news in the hospitality lounge of the mechanics garage,... and I'm walking away with ONE IMPOSSIBLE FINANCIAL BUDGET. Oh sure, I could fudge the numbers once again, but that would require the removal of glass, the taking apart a thing of beauty. Who wants that? No one - right?!
So as I'm driving away from my cash-ectomy, I find myself really quite angry that this fine establishment has my money,...my budget,... but the worst part was, as I glanced down at the dashboard I find the ultimate "In Your Face" - the check engine light is still on! They did all the extra work to the vehicle, charged me a ton of money, but apparently it wasn't enough for the light to shut off. At this point what is there to do? I'll tell you,... you live it. Sometimes you live it to the best situations, and sometimes you just live 'It'. Today, I'm going to live it. Hopefully, tomorrow,.. I don't blow it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)