bnd-writenow: My brother, Mark, was finally diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. After just a week on medication, he's starting to regain some stability in his life.

Initially, his doctors said he was having a psychological breakdown. He delved into counselling, energywork, breathwork and meditaion. The tremors got worse.

Finally referred to a top neurologist in Odessa, Texas, he received his diagnosis one week ago today. In that short amount of time, he's doing very well.

I want to thank my Fan Story friends for their love, support and prayers - I never expected to find anything like that when I joined this site.
    mchapman: my dear bnd-writenow, let Mark know he is not alone. I too have been stricken with this disease. I was diagnoseed in 1999 if I can answer any questions or be supportive please contact me. mchapman aka Mary -
    bnd-writenow: I received many e-mails from my FS friends about personal experiences and prayer groups for my brother.

    I let him know, and he was touched and humbled by this unsuspected support!

    Thank you so much - I'll contact you thru e-mail. -
    rama devi: Adding in more prayers and loving light---:) -
    Border Reiver: Sorry to here that bnd. My Granny had that, for years doctors treated her for a stroke! Fortunately nowadays we have a better understanding of the disease. Just look at Michael J Fox, he's had it for about 20 years now and is still going strong, and a true inspiration.
    My thoughts go out for your brother and your whole family.

    Kat -
    bnd-writenow: I'd forgotten about MJF! Thanks for your kind words and support!!! -
    Xylok: ...adding my prayers and vibes to the mix as well. :) -


bnd-writenow: I'm logging on today for the first time in a while.

While I was away on school vacation in April, my brother - in Texas - went through a very bad time. He's been out on medical leave since then.

I've been spending my FS time focusing on him thru prayer, phone calls and lengthy e-mails... LOL - he likes my writing! Despite all the nice things I've heard from other sources, the praise of my big brother had me doing a happy dance.

He said I should write a book at some point about how we survived our childhood. So, we're saving our e-mails and notes.

***

The first chapter of my co-authored teen book (creative non-fiction about a local food/sustainability project) is ready to send off to agents/publishers. I'm focusing on gathering submission guideline as well as names of agents and publishers. LOL - it feels like I'm not writing, but this is an important part of the process!

I'll be back on fs before too long... I have some updates to post about Haiti.


I miss my friends and their awesome writing.
Bonnie


bnd-writenow: I'm so busy these days, I can hardly keep up with life in the real world, much less here in the virual realms...

I came across this quote, and had to laugh. I hope you enjoy it, too:

"Writing, to me, is simply thinking through my fingers." Isaac Asimov

I'm thrilled to be a co-winner in the Train of Thoughts contest! I entered by accident while I was reviewing the rules to review an entry.

Thank you for your votes, kind reviews and support!


    rama devi: Congrats dear sister---There are no accidents LOL! :) -


bnd-writenow: For some, truth is viseral, tangible and blatant. For others, truth is an elusive, formless entity - a distant goal.

Here's my quote for the day -

"Once in a while you will stumble upon the truth but most of us manage to pick ourselves up and hurry along as if nothing had happened." Winston Churchill

Now there's some food for thought...


bnd-writenow: No - there are no such things as bukus, Tolkus, prokus, or the like! I made them up for my Haiku Harvest collection to make a point and to make you all smile!

However, there is a tofu, dofu and my neighbor's poodle, Foofoo...
    Isaiah Ramesses: You are a darling. Such a personality you seem to have. A beautiful wisdom, also. Have a great day Haiku writer. -
    Xylok: hey there! hope your day is as rocking as your writing! :) -
    Xylok: your Haiku harvest post is awesome! -
    Xylok: oh, yeah, and the title of that post...WOW bonnie. awesome. -
    Isaiah Ramesses: Character is higher than intellect.
    A great soul will be strong to live as well as think.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson -


bnd-writenow: Here's my quote for the day - seems to fit what's happening to me in this weird time of seasonal change.

After the previous week tantalizing us with spring promises, it's down in the teens at night, with chilly, breeezy days...

It's too cold to do this, too warm to do that... I'm feeling stagnant, on the verge of major movement...

"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." Will Rogers
    Sally Carter: What a superb quotation! I shall try to remember that one. Sally -
    patmedium: If you're feeling stagnant, Bonnie, and on the edge of movement... but frustrated because you can't quite get there...
    I would like to recommend a good dose of syrup of figs! Pat. xx -
    geoniasha: I love this quote. It's a nice way of say, 'Don't just sit there, DO something.' Thanks for sharing this wonderful quote by one of the best! geo -


bnd-writenow: With the spring playing its fickle tricks - 75 on Saturday and it snowed on Sunday - my thoughts have been running to the same extremes. Shadowing the weather, it's been hard for my spirit to settle - so restless; my mind's playing tricks on me as well as everyone else, it seems.

So here's the quote I like today:

"I don't think there's anything unique about human intelligence. All the neurons in the brain that make up perceptions and emotions operate in a binary fashion." Bill Gates

Yup - just switches, going on and off. Simple.

Okay, so nerdiness is a part of me - I think algebraically, or in patterns.

Now you know one of my biggest secrets. (*^.^*)




    EXMAN. nffc: I'm more of a switches turning on kind of guy. My wife wouldn't agree. -


bnd-writenow: To all the Irish, or Irish wannabees -

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
    Xylok: read it, working on review currently -


bnd-writenow: Happy Birthday to me!


bnd-writenow: No quote today!

Happy New Year to all our Asian friends and others who celebrate the lunar calendar.

So, XIN NIAN HAO!

Let's hope the year of the tiger is a happy, healthy prosperous year for everyone!


bnd-writenow: With the flu kicking me in the butt, I've not been up for posting to FS, although I sold one story about Haiti to a paper.

Just as I started feeling better, the Jeep died, but was resurrected a week later, for very little $$ - Bless my machanic! He could have easily soaked me for a grand, but, hopefully, he didn't use paper clips and duct tape since he charged less than $100!

So, I've been thinking about science, physics, motion, karma and grace. This is a logical progression for my Piscean mind...

So here's a thought for today:

"The less you know, the more you believe." by Bono

Food for thought...



bnd-writenow: Since the last contest I won was a DJ for the Night at a local radio station many years ago, I am happy my poem won the New Arrival Poetry contest. My sincere thanks goes to the FS board members for this honor as well as the support of many FS members. I will put my gift certificate to good use.

As I get ready to post several works about Haiti in a few days, I ask that you keep your attention, support and prayers focused on this small island nation. TV crews, already moving on to current headlines, report less every day. Yet, as the initial catastrophe passes, need grows.

I came across this quote my Martin Luther King, Jr. and it reflects my feelings today:

"Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals."

Haiti's people have a long history of struggle and suffering and the death toll of this earthquake made for sacrifice of biblical proportions.

Now is the time for justice.


FanStory wrote to bnd-writenow: Congratulations! New Arrival Blues won the contest "New Arrival Poetry"
    rama devi: Bravo dear sister! So pleased to see you won this! YAY! -


bnd-writenow: My heart is filled with sadness for the Haitian people during this catastrophe. As I prepare writings for FS and print, my prayers go out to those in need as well as those attempting to deliver aid.

I pray that by working together in Haiti, the international aid groups will bring hope to surviors of this tragedy.

"People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society." Vince Lombardi


bnd-writenow: Although I write non-fiction, I read tons of fiction. My favorite writings tend to be adventure, fantasy and sci-fi. I also like historical novels and other genres that carry me away, so I'm in the story rather than on my couch. My record is 13 in one week, but I had dengue fever at the time, and could do little else.

My favorite book is Trinity by Leon Uris - it's about a 1000 pages and I've read it 8 times. I'm due to pick it up again, and I suspect it is the reason why I love the Irish so much.

While I love novels from long ago, I want a story that sets the scene, develops characters and moves along at a quick pace. Keeping in present tense (or past, when appropriate) rather than over using passsive voice is key to the action. I love Poe, but he wrote in his day, and we must write in ours.

Here's a little advice from a well-known Maine writer - you may have heard of him:

"In many cases when a reader puts a story aside because it 'got boring,' the boredom arose because the writer grew enchanted with his powers of description and lost sight of his priority, which is to keep the ball rolling."

Stephen King from On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

...he does a rather good job with that ball...

***
    Kathryn Varuzza: I love your quotes, and you are definitely a soul sister. -