A Litte of This and That

Summer is rolling into fall. Every mother of school age children who are not home schooled sighs when school reconvenes. I marvel at families who chose to home school and who do so with great success.

My herb plants are scraggly from lack of attention. The harvested basil has been put to use as has the mint. I shall pluck what I can from my favorite herb, the lemon verbena that struggles to survive. Now that fresh herbs are available at the market, my natural tendency to avoid gardening has taken hold and keeps me inside where it is cool.

A few notes about the broad category of romance fiction: Romance was the biggest fiction category published in 2007. The number of men reading romance is increasing. Contemporary, Inspirational and Historical are the three top sub-genres. I have tried writing all three. My heart prefers writing what is known as the Regency historical.

Words of inspiration:

Hope and be happy that all's for the best!
Martin Farquahar Tupper: All's for the Best, st. 3

Happily Ever After

Sorrows remembered sweeten present joy.
Robert Polock: Course of Time, Bk. I

Joys are our wings, sorrows our spurs.
Jean Paul Richter

Romance fiction demands a promise of happily ever after before the writer ends the story. Every fairy tale ends with the promise of a happy ever after. But, in all of these stories, obstacles arise that must be overcome and resolutions to differences must be found.

Real life is full of obstacles, sorrows, differences, and grim news--things that detour us from obtaining the happiness we seek. But overcoming the pot holes of life leads to happiness.

Keep positive. Remember past woes, but don't let unhappy memories spoil today.

Boston and the Revolution

The Massachusetts State House, located in the center of Boston at the crest of Beacon Hill is an interesting structure. The orignial portion is still there and still used. The newer portion is well-integrated.

After Boston, there are six State Houses to go before we will have visited all fifty: California, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Idaho and Hawaii remain. Both Idaho and Utah are being renovated and Idaho is closed to the public. Making the rounds of the State Houses has been an amazing experience in touching the history of this great nation.

Since the 2008 RWA Conference is being held in San Francisco, the California, Oregon and Washington State Houses will be on the travel agenda.

In Boston we not only visited the State House but also toured the US Constitution--used in the War of 1812 and docked at the Boston Naval Yard--Feneuil Hall, Quincy Market and The old State House. I love Boston. The flavor of the city reminds me of London--a blend of the old with the new.

Pedestrians consider the streets of Boston nothing more than additional sidewalks. They cross on the red hand and on the walking guy icon--! They cross anywhere they choose.

Adding to the wonder, we visited the town of Quincy to tour the Adams' residences. The properties are a remarkable preservation of history by the Adams' descendents and the National Park Service.

So I am steeped in the history of the nations birth and my head is full of the romance of past times. Stories pop pop pop in my head. If only I could write a book in a minute.

Because I am enchanted by all of this, I am lableling this post under romance.