My Bro, Mike...The Guy Next Door

Most of you know I have two pretty cool brothers: Mike and Mark. Without them, I think I'd be a different person. Actually, I know I would. Thanks to them I learned to drive a stick (kind of). I developed a thick skin (bless my younger brother for making back-up beeper noises whenever I crossed paths with him in the hallway. Good thing round butts are in these days, right Mark?) Growing up with them, I discovered that men are simple creatures, and us women tend to complicate things by over thinking (at least I do). AND I recognized that I really wanted to marry someone who had both my brothers' characteristics mixed into one, awesome guy. And there was Karl...

ANYWAY.... since I live right next door to my oldest brother, Mike, I had to choose him for Shakopee's GUY'S NEXT DOOR contest. My younger brother Mark is thrilled he is living in South Africa at the moment (whatever). Several men from Shakopee (population 21,000+) were nominated by someone (friends, wives, sisters, etc) to partake in a community calendar. Mike has been selected as a possible candidate, but I now need your help voting him in!  Voting ends October 31.

Maybe I chose Mike because he is my next door neighbor (seems fitting, doesn't it?) and he's about the nicest guy I have ever met. Truthfully, I had to nominate him for this contest because he really IS the guy next door - as in the guy who will do ANYTHING to make people around him happy.

I think there are five facts we all know about Mike:

1. He smiles more than the average person; perhaps more than anyone you and I have ever met.
2. The guy is the most selfless person on the planet.
3. He loves maps and rarely gets lost. If he does, he calls it an adventure.
4. He loves the smell of bleach 
5. His life can be summed up in three words: The Amazing Race.

Somewhere down the road, you met Mike (or will) and he probably made you think twice about your own actions. Is it possible to be this nice, giving and happy all the time? How does one do it?

Rumor has it, my parents named Mike after the LIFE cereal commercials back in '77...He Likes It! Hey, Mikey! My mom said his first word was "Ernie" and he used to ask questions she never had answers for, such as, why do I wrinkle in the bathtub and whales don't? Or, why isn't our skin as beautiful as other nationalities? Not quite the questions I asked...

Besides being the most giving person, he has a spirit about him that is contagious, maybe this is why so many people want to be around him, especially me. Hope Karl doesn't mind Mike being our neighbor for many years to come. Mike's involved in anything and everything he can get his hands on: volleyball, marathons, beer brewing, traveling, church ministries, work, gardening, cooking, earning his MBA, etc... What hasn't he done?

You get the picture! I'd love for you to vote for him if you can!  Vote away (see below)!! Thank you!

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The Amazing World of Social Networking

I used to hate Twitter. I didn't quite get it. Then one day this spring I started to play around with it and before I knew it, I was hooked. I started to like it more than Facebook. Twitter is simple. (And now I love Twitter so much I just had to add it in my manuscript.) Soon, I found a large group of aspiring writers through Twitter. Some had published books, others were in the editing phase and the rest were right in the same place as I was...the beginning stages. But no matter who I asked, most were willing to share whatever knowledge they could to help me along my writing way.

Before I knew it, I received an email from a gal named Gabriela living in Brazil. "I am thinking about starting up a chick-lit critique group, are you interested?" she asked.

"Wow, someone all the way from Brazil? Cool. This Twitter thing is neater than I thought!" I remember saying out loud to myself.

There are currently five women in our critique group. We mainly focus on women's literature but there is a little supernatural and young adult genre thrown in the mix too. We take turns emailing the entire group one to three chapters of our manuscript once a month and we spend a week reviewing each other's manuscripts. And let me tell you...this has been SO helpful! We're Twitter friends and Facebook pals and now follow each other blogs. What would I have done ten years ago? God, I love technology!

Gabriela is a Brazilian journalist and writer. She writes women's fiction and is currently trying to finish her first English-language novel. She's just like me in a way. Gabriela has a full-time job, not necessary where her heart lies, but she has an intense passion to go after her dream of becoming a full-time novelist. We both want to find a job that will allow us to travel and write. Someday, Gabriela!

Gabriela had a wonderful idea to start a Women's Fiction Month in October. She wanted to meet even more women fiction writers and form a bigger network for all of us. I say, "GREAT IDEA!"

Gabriela's blog (which is pink!) is completely devoted to women’s fiction this month. She spends time interviewing writers and asking writers to post their thoughts as they go through all the phases of writing. She even was able to contact Jodi Picoult (yes, the writer of My Sister's Keeper) to answer a few questions for her blog! Sweet!

Below is my blog posting on Gabriela's site! In my post, I shared my latest writing struggles. I finished my manuscript but questioned why wasn't I celebrating... Hope you enjoy!
http://aspiringwriterworld.blogspot.com/2010/10/word-from-crit-chick-i-finished-my.html

Keep on writing!

"When we dream together, it is not just a dream. It is the beginning of reality."
- Dom Helder Camara

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Star Tribune Blog - What Do You Think Heaven is Like?

Here is my latest article posted on Star Tribune YourVoices online blog! I guess you can say I have been thinking a lot about heaven...

http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/103829199.html?elr=KArks47cQiUdcOy_9cP3DiU47cQUU

"God puts each morning, each new chance of life into our hands as a gift to see what we'll do with it."

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Dexter Has Taken Over My Life

Earlier this summer my husband Karl asked me if I wanted to start watching a new show. We were both sad our favorite show LOST was over for good. No more smoke monsters, Dharma Initiative and confusion for us. Part of me was okay to let go of LOST. After all, this meant I had more free time to write! And I did spend the summer writing, a lot. I finished my manuscript!

But then Karl brought up Dexter again a couple weeks ago. "Just one episode," he insisted, "if we don't like it, we won't ever have to watch it again."

Little did I know I would become partially obsessed. Dexter is in my dreams at night. I can't seem to let the  concept of the show settle in my head on its own. I need answers now. I want to know Dexter. Sometimes I hear his voice throughout the day. Never in my wildest imagination did I ever think I'd like a show about a serial killer who kills bad people, and has no remorse or emotion. Anyone who knows me, knows I love feelings!!! Dexter is different. I mean, a killer who chops up the bad people in this world is still doing bad, but the show is a twisted kind of good. He's taking out the trash. But I bet God wouldn't like this... I know, I know, the show is fiction, but still it is BRILLIANT.  I think I'm drawn to the characters the most. Each one fits their role perfectly. I can't find one who bothers me.

We finished up season one on Monday night. Our bedtime is early and we stayed up close to midnight just to finish. The ice truck killer had our heads spinning!

If I were you, I'd head to your local video store and pick up Season One of Dexter. And then message me because I want to know if I'm the only one who is this crazy about the show. I'm going to warn you, it's addicting... I hear the books are even better. Oh, dear - I'm in trouble!

Have you seen Dexter? What do you think?

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I Finished my FIRST Manuscript

I can't believe I haven't posted anything about finishing my manuscript yet. I'm in a bit of a walking coma to say the least. My eyes are completely fried after spending most of the day revising and editing my completed manuscript. There's that word again...completed.

Last Monday, I had finished the goal I set out to accomplish. I ended my manuscript at 297 pages, which seems absolutely nuts in my eyes. I can't believe I had that much to write about, but I did and the book is still growing. After today, I'm at 303 pages and have revised up to chapter eight. The more I revise, the more excited I get about my book. How on earth did I come up with these ideas?

Revising and editing takes a long time - much longer than I ever anticipated. I thought I'd go back and read the first draft of my manuscript and be completely happy. Wrong. There are so many pieces of information I missed. My patience is wearing thin. I'm one of those people who likes for things to happen right away. I want my manuscript off to agents yesterday, but I know it's not ready. I need to LOVE it. I do, but I'm a perfectionist and I know I can make the story better.

There are not enough hours in the day.

I had to pull myself away from my computer this afternoon to go on a hike with Karl. The weather was spectacular and here I was stuck behind my laptop, like I am already five days out of the week at work. I knew I had to get away because my neck was screaming in pain. I don't like sitting still in the first place - I have way too much energy for that and was losing my mind over here.

I will say writing "The End" was one of the coolest feelings, but not ccompletely what I thought it would feel like and I think it's because I know I'm just not there yet. I think once I finish editing, I might shed a tear or two. Actually, I will be going out and celebrating. Right now, I still have holes in my manuscript. I'm scared to fall asleep for fear I will lose my memory or something. What if I forget where I left off?

I tend to welcome interruptions throughout the day.  I'm a doer and a helper and this shows in my current manuscript. One chapter someone had blue eyes and three chapters later they have green. Sigh! My goal now is to make the entire story flow.

This is where having a full-time job becomes a struggle. I have to leave all my thoughts and ideas about my book behind because otherwise they will consume me on a daily basis. I even dream about my book. The weekends are meant for charging ahead and getting as far as I can before the next one comes. During the week, I have too many events going on that I can maybe give an hour or two towards my book. This makes piecing the story together difficult. I'm inspired more on certain days than others and it shows in my writing.

I'm still celebrating though because this is a huge feat - maybe a small step in the writing world but a gigantic one for me. I can't believe I actually did this, and it's that feeling that's pushing me to keep going.

For now...it's time to dream about that book of mine! Good night!

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Celebrating One Year

Enclosed is my latest article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. It's sort of a recap of the adventure my husband and I had on our one-year wedding anniversary trip!  Hope you enjoy!

http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/102114779.html

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I'm back!

I know you guys missed me! Sorry I have been MIA (missing in action - for those who struggle with acronyms). If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you know I was on a fabulous one-year anniversary trip with my amazing husband, Karl. I will say I do not feel like I have been married for an entire year - I've had way too much fun! Below is the latest in my world in no particular order!

1. My amazing grandpa

My grandparent's car after their accident

My grandparents were in a horrific car accident almost two Thanksgiving's ago. They were in a head-on collision the night before my grandma was going to meet me for my FIRST EVER bridal gown fitting. I didn't realize how bad it was until I saw some of the pictures. The man who hit them shouldn't have had a license. He had been in and out of jail and seemed to keep getting free passes. This confused me. How can we let someone who had a two-page long record continue to drive? He was behind a semi on a two-lane country road when he pulled out to pass in a no passing zone and hit my grandparents going about 60 miles per hour. My grandpa didn't have any time to react. My grandparents were in the hospital for many weeks. They eventually made it through and even danced at our wedding (which meant the world to me) but the accident took years off their lives. I know they survived because they have always been so active and have this amazing strong faith in God.

Right before Karl and I left on vacation my grandpa was rushed to ICU by helicopter. His brain was leaking blood again - he was experiencing dizzy spells and his leg wasn't moving correctly; his speech was slurred. They drilled another hole in his head and drained the blood. This was his second time getting a hole drilled in his head since the accident. He had to lie in bed for 12 hours without moving. The last time this happened, they took him off his blood thinners and three large clots formed around his heart. One broke off when I was with him last July and he almost had to have his leg amputated. He is off thinners for good now. This is scary. It's one thing after another and I know time is short. This kills me. I love my grandpa so much. He's the coolest guy in the whole world and I'm not ready to say goodbye. But are we ever ready? How do we prepare? I spent an entire night on our trip thinking horrible, sad thoughts and couldn't sleep. Then I started wondering more and more about heaven. What is it like up there? Do you think our loved ones will be up there? If anyone has any answers, please let me know..

2. Trip out to the Northwest

The world's largest Spruce Tree (1000 years old)

What a trip!!!!!! I think I'm going to highlight this trip in my next Star Tribune blog, so you'll have to look for more on our awesome trip there. The world is so huge and full of so many beautiful places. I wish I could spend my life traveling with Karl. I'm trying to figure out how we can visit places all over the world, and I can spend time tweeting and blogging about them (and make some money)! Is that too much to ask for? Talk about dream job!

3. Summer don't go away!

I know summer isn't officially over until September 22 (also my super awesome grandpa's birthday) but I can't help but get depressed! I'm not ready for the cold. I feel like summer has just started! I saw snow in Oregon and Washington and I'm just not prepared. Being cold causes me to get crabby - sunshine and warmth makes me smile! I think I need to start planning that tropical Koester family trip during the cold, winter months. Maybe that will help. According to a post I saw on aol.com, Farmer's Almanac says we're supposed to have a normal winter with three major snow storms. Three?? We'll see about that!

4. My book status
I was excited that I spent the entire flight out to San Francisco writing! I am so close to being done with my manuscript (ms) that all I want to do is write, but time isn't allowing that! I would love to bury myself in our house all weekend and finish it, but again...we're on the go! I hope to at least dedicate maybe a half of a day this weekend to writing. I'd like to say a full day, but I don't think that's possible. I'm trying to shoot for smaller goals. I think what I'm most excited about is starting back at chapter one and reading the entire ms. I know I have holes right now because of my schedule and it's hard trying to find time to write several chapters at once. I lose track of where I am at. I'm ready to fill the whole story in and send off my ms to my friend Luke for his opinion! I also joined a chick lit critique group. It'll be nice to hear a variety of opinions from both sexes. Karl also wants to get his hands on my ms. He reads more than anyone I know, so he'll be great at this...I'm just nervous what he might think of me. LOL! I can almost taste how excited I'm going to be when I finish this. I actually feel like this book might go somewhere, but I do tend to live in a fantasy world too... Sigh!

5. Is my schedule normal?
I know everyone says they are busy, so I have to wonder if I even fit in that category? What is "busy" in people's minds?  I mean...I work 40 hours, I have a freelance job where I design newsletters for a small engineering company in New Ulm, I write for KSTP, I write for Star Tribune, I have this blog, I am quite obsessed with Facebook and Twitter and email...I'm writing a book, I play volleyball, I workout, I'm involved in my church, I'm reading three books at once...I cook and clean and try to pay the bills...I try to make happy hours and coordinate fun events. I rarely ever just sit on the couch.  Is this a normal type of schedule? Because sometimes I feel really overwhelmed, but then I hear people go on and on about how busy they are that I just don't know if I compare? I guess I just feel like I need to prepare myself for motherhood because I feel like I'm going to have to learn to juggle a lot. How am I going to do it though? For real... Any advice?

That about concludes my thoughts for the day! More to come on our trip and other goods!

Of all the things granted us by wisdom, none is greater of better than friendship - Pietro Arentino

Karl and Christie in Crater Lake in Oregon

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