New Contract and my Health

Hi, ya'll. I wanted to share the big news:
I've been offered a contract with The Wild Rose Press' Scarlet line for Firefae. Wooohooo! I'm so excited. This time around, a hot and spicy female fae will rule the realm.
As many of you know already, my health has been deteriating the past couple of years. First I had female surgery in Feb of 07 and the pathology reports from that led to a total abdominal hysterectomy in April of 2007. Was doing great, healing great and getting my stamina back. Then in late September of 07, I felt a lump in my left breast. it was huge, but I was in denial thinking it was a cyst during the mammogram and ultrasound they rushed me through. When I went to the ob/gyn doc to get the results he told me that I had cancer. My world fell apart, but I still held onto hope that the biopsy would prove the doctors wrong. It didn't happen that way. i was diagnosed with Stage IIIA breast cancer. I had a 6.5 cm mass and it had locally metastazised to a lymph node. I underwent a mastectomy, port placement and then went through chemo. It was not fun, but faith in God and my family and friends, plus my decision to fight this, got me through the treatment. I am blessed that as of today's date, I am cancer free. I try not to dwell on it everyday, but sometimes its hard not to worry it will come back. According to the charts, I have a 79% chance of being alive and cancer free in 10 years. That's high, and I feel so blessed. but the possibility of recurrence is always there. One of my friends has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer after 2 years cancer free. she was my inspiration and its disheartening to see the possibility of mets so very close to you.
Anyways, even though I've seemed to beat cancer, my overall health has been declining and I assumed it was due to the cancer treatment. I have muscle weakness and pain in both my legs, feet and hands. And my stamina hasn't been what it used to be. I have great difficultly climbing stairs, can hardly get on the floor. If I do, I can hardly get back up. You should see me try to get in and out of a bathtub. Very, very hard.
All my doctors have been puzzled yet after several tests, assumed it was from my medication or cancer treatments. I have been tested for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, MS, and many other things. Thankfully, all have been negative.
I suffer from chronic infections and have been almost constantly on & off antibiotics for a few years. then shortly after I injured my foot on the treadmill a few months back, I started having GI problems. Could hardly hold anything down on my stomach and generally didn't feel good. But only minor lower abdominal and rectal and left flank pain. No upper abdominal pain. They thought I had Diverticulitis so I was sent to a surgeon. After a workup including a ct scan and Hidaa scan, it showed that my gall bladder was non functuioning and I had no active infection in the diverticulosis that I have. That led to a laparoscopic cholestectomy. (Gall bladder removal) I healed from that well, but the anesthesia led to an episode of severe muscle pain and temporary paralysis throughout my entire body. My husband took me to the er and after morphine and decadron, the symptoms eased up. the ER doctor told me to follow up with a Rheumatoid Dr, and told me that I have some sort of rare disorder that the regular doctors have no clue about. they also detected a UTI, so I was put on a round of cipro.
The minor pain in my lower belly,rectum and flank hadn't eased up and my bowels were all messed up even before the gallbladder surgery. He switched me to Levaquin and after 2 days, I'd become so sick again, that I went back to the Er. They took me off the Levaquin and put me on a round of Doxicyline. But the minor pain never left, although being off the Levaquin made me feel much better.
Two thursdays ago, I was at work and started feeling very strange. Dizzy, the pain was getting stronger and I knew something was wrong. My work called an ambulance and they took me back to the ER. This time, they did a rectal exam and told me that they thought I had an anal fissure. And also told me that the UTI was not gone, so I was continued on antibiotics, and was told to follow up with a GI doctor. So I called the one they referred me to, and was told they couldn't get me in until June 23rd. That was the soonest appt they had. I called my primary care physician to find out what to do and he ended up admitting me into the hospital that day. I was in for 6 days and poked, prodded every which way. In the back of my mind, I was scared that I had colon cancer, but after a colonscopy yesterday morning, it showed no cancer. I have Diverticulosis (alot of pockets)& hemorroids. Not an anal fissure. when I was first admitted, the xrays showed that I was partially impacted so they corrected that also and tested all the antibiotics with my urine culture to see what would get rid of the infection. I feel much better and was finally discharged yesterday. The doctor is trying me on a Lactose Free diet and I'm on several medications to help prevent all the Gi problems. I go see him next week.
And if that wasn't enough. During the work up for the Gall bladder surgery, a ct scan showed a small mass on my left adrenal gland. With a history of cancer, they sent me to an endocrinologist who I saw a few weeks ago. He told me that he highly suspects I have Hyperaldosteronism, or Conn's Disease. Apparently, I have had all the symptoms for years but its pretty rare. (or they used to think so. They're finding more and more people with it) He's running me through testing to see if I need the left adrenal gland removed. It depends, first, If I indeed have this disorder, 2nd-if the mass is actually causing it. The mass could be non-functioning and the disorder could be from a heritary condition from the adrenals. The testing will determine that, but its a slow go. one of the meds I'm on to control leg edema is Spironolactone. They have to take me off of it for 6 weeks before I can have the final blood test to make sure I have this.
Here's the symptoms of Hyperaldosteronism, or Conn's Disease (I have a history of all of them):
Hard to control blood pressure. I've had it for years.
May or may not have a family history of high blood pressure. If a mass is the culprit, than chances are you'll have nobody in your family with high blood pressure. I don't
Migraines
Urinating more at night then during the day
low potassium levels. During my history of treatment for high blood pressure, they kept having to increase my potassium pills due to this condition
Muscle weakness in legs, hands and feet.
leg edema-Which I've developed but as long as I'm on the Spironolactone, It controls it.
And guess what they treat this disorder with, if you don't have a visible adrenal gland mass that is causing it? Spironolactone. I'm already on it. That was another clue to the doc that I have it.
You may be wondering why I've blogged about all this. Well, I'm pretty different from the rest of my family. they tend to keep their health problems private but I talk about it openly. It helps me deal with the stress of not feeling good. The more I talk, the better I handle it. Also I feel like I'm meant to get the word out for Hyperaldosteronism. the public and the medical community need start recognizing this disease. I googled and found one support group for this disorder and they accepted me. It turns out that one of the doctors that is on the group, used to work with the Dr. Conn. The doctor that the condition is named after.
So, in the future, you will probably see me posting about this disease and also, the breast cancer. I want to show people that there is life after a cancer diagnosis.
While I was in the hospital, I was able to see Farrah's Story. I was uplifted. That woman is so strong and cureagous. I'm kind of like her in the way that I want to have people see what cancer is like. Its not pretty.
If I could help one person, than I've done my job.

History's tough mothers

The worlds'oldest profession, err, the other oldest profession.

Motherhood.

We are the cornerstone of society, the building blocks of an empire rest on our shoulders, how we nurture the next generation makes history. This mothers day, I would like to acknowlege some of the tough mothers we might have forgotten.

Anne Boleyn:

Refusal to become Henry VIII's mistrress. Anne kept her eyes on the prize. She became Queen of England when Catherine of Aragon was evicted back to Spain.
A key figure in the English Reformation, She gave birth to one of the greatest leaders in England. Queen Elizabeth I. Sadly the birth of a dughter became her undoing when the king wanted a son.
She was beheaded May 1536 for hight treason. When her daughter became queen, Anne was verated as a marty and heroine of the English Reformation. Her sister ran off with her child and raised her so, Mary Boleyn deserves mention as a tough mom as well.

Olympus of Epirus:
Princess of Epirote, commander of her own army and Queen of Macedonia, Alexander the Great just called her mom.Angry at comments that her son was an inferior hier as he wasn't of pure Macedonian blood, she told her husband Zeus fathered her baby.
They divorced and her husband, King Philip of Macedonia, denied Alexander. At the wedding of his next wife, a toast was made blessing Philip and the legitimate heirs he will have with his new bride. Philip then offered this man the hand of his daughter (with Olympia).
He was found murdered soon after and Alexander took over his father's throne.She supported her son and they were close, afer his death Olympia reared her grandchildren as warriors, plotted against ememies and caused the deaths of usurpers. Cruel while in control it is said she was denied burial rites after she died.

Elizabeth (Ersébeth) Bathory:
The countess of Hungary, mass murderer, occultist and mother of four.When accused of her crimes against female blood the countess outsmarted her cousins attempt at a land grab and left all her property to her children, assuring thier wealth and title after her death.She helped fund the war against the Turks and was in line to be queen of Poland. Her son stood up for her in court. Bathory was not executed but bricked up in her room until she died four years later in 1610.

Cleopatra:
Incestuous marriage to her brother yeilded no children. Political alliances (and betrayals) bore a son to Julias Ceasar and a son as well as twins to Marc Antony.Her reign marks the reign of the Roman Era i n the Eastern Mediterranean. She rebelled against Rome and tried to fend for the best interests of Egypt. Allied with Marc Antony they suffered a final defeat at Actuim. She killed herself.Her beauty was not as renowned as history proclaims. in the words of Plutarch, what made Cleopatra attractive was her wit, charm and sweetenss in her tone of voice.

Coretta Scott King
After her husband's murder in 1968, the easiest course for this lady might bave been to flee to a more tolerant part of the country and never risk raising public ire again. Coretta might have been critcized for not protecting her children, instead she rose to the challenge of continuing her husbands work with the civil rights movementas as well as the womens movement.
She approached Josephine Baker,an entertainer and activist, to take over her husbands place as leader of the civil rights movemement.
Josephine declined stating her children were too young to lose a mother.
Coretta steped up to the plate herself, speaking boldly for human rights, and an end to war and poverty.she founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Center of Non Violent Social Change in Atlanta.
Any threat of violence was superceded by a desire to carve a better world for children, hers and ours.

Does motherhood bestow an occult inner strength or does the power of love transcend all forces both natural and supernatural?

Lt. Nyota Uhura

In 1966 a new show came on the air called Star trek. A western set in space, the show gave free thinkers food for thought, in fact, after 79 seasons it was cancelled for being "too cerebral"
As a kindergartener watching this show with my older brothers, it didnt occur tome that white people working with other races, let alone Vulcans, should be unusual in any way.

I loved Uhura.It was a dark secret I had to keep to myself, as an upper middle class child, growing up in the 70's there were some things not accepted.In the 70's if there was a black woman on the screen she was a nanny, whore or maid.

Enter Nichelle Nichols.
The bridge of the Enterprise was graced with a woman who was elegant, refined and highly intelligent. every inch a lady, Uhura shattered the stereotype not only for black women but women everywhere. She did not get coffee, no one referred to her as "the little lady" and she held her own without benefit of a husband.

Her skirt got shorter with the part and Nichelle thought about quitting. She tells about being in her dressing room when Martin Luther King popped in to say hello. He told her don't quit, no matter how small the part becomes, she is a role model to black girls on a show optimistic about the future. thankfully, she didnt quit, but Dr. King was only half right.

Lt. Uhura was not just an inspiration to black girls. To the little girl ostracized for facial paralysis, Uhura gave me an example of dignity I tried to emulate as I walked down the halls at school. Lifting my head high. I wouldn't let anyone see me cry. I read and learned to ignore ugly things I heard. (ok I did backslide and get suspended for fighting once. must have been my inner Kirk)

I look forward to the prequel "Trek XI" comes out next month. In the thirty second trailer you have Uhura stripping off her shirt.
Annoyance began creeping up my spine.

There is rumor she is going to have an affair with Kirk.
I gave an exasperated sigh.

As the release date nears, I am ready for battle. I want to love the movie, but more than that, I want Uhura treated with the class and dignity she has personified for 40 years.she is nobody's slut and I don't think she needs to shake her money maker for ratings. (Isn't that what the Andorians were for?)

I will become very angry if they sully this refined character and make her ship's trollop. I will resort to coarse language when I rip into my communications board and blast Paramount out of the water.

I hope I am over reacting to a thirty second trailer and the creators of this movie will respect Rodenberry's vision. it is a vision wrapped snugly in my psyche. Peace, cooperation, and unity made possible through acceptance of others and acceptance of self.

Ancient Weapons

In the beginning there were rocks.
Seriously.

The first weapons were used for hunting. Flint was chiseled into arrow heads (a clovis point), the material was strong as steel and sharper. When used with bows, they were powerful enough to pierce a horse from its hindquarters to its heart. The same points were attached to longer wooden shafts to make spears.

The flint knife had serrations along the edge, as the flint would break in predictable ways. Fragments were useful for making tools along with horns and antlers. They were sharpened for cutting leather, and scraping the skins of animals for clothes.

Stone age tools:

Blade core: stone or obisdian used for making different tools by flaking off peices of the core.
End Scraper: used to scrape fur from animal hides.
Burin: stone tool used to carve bone, antler, or wood. Picture a case cutter, but in the stone age the rounded stone piece was the handle while a triangular blade portruded from it.
Awl: used for shredding plant fibers.Antler Harpoon: used for hunting large marine animals. picture a rose stem, instead of the thorns facing the sky, the barbs bent away from the point on the top.
Clovis point: used for killing large animals and cutting plants.Bone flute: used for playing music.Beads: may have been used for currency.
Needle: used for stitching hides.
Bone Point: projectile hunting tool. A deep groove cuts into the base of the point where a wooden shaft was secured with resin.Most stories occur long after this time period, but the resilience of man, and the use of creativity to aid survival is always interesting.

The Bronze age spans the years between 3300 to 1200 BCE. the time period is divided into three stages: early, middle and late. Bronze is an alloy of copper (90%) and tin (10%). The greatest ore sites are located in Britain and central Europe.

Copper and bronze weapons were superior to stone in strength, sharpnes and durability. Historians credit metal weapons with growth of urban civilizaitons by creating a class of skilled metal workers. There was greater contact with scattered people as traders traveled far abroad in search of copper and tin deposits.

With the rise of urban living came the need for armies to protect the area. Those cultures without metallurgy technology fell prey to those that did. The Bronze age covers the time of ancient Greeks, Troy, Assyrians and Egyptians, what we think of as Biblical times. Plagues and famine made some peoples vulnerable to the powerful armies that rose weilding advanced weapons.

Stone age weapons were still used but improved upon. Bows and arrows were widely used in hunting, but in many cultures, it was considered honorable to look into your enemies' eyes on the field of battle.
The sling was still popular for those who might not be able to afford a sword. This weapon worked very well for David when he went up against Goliath. The staff was popular for multiple uses, a bronze tip applied to make a spear.
Swords and daggers could be made to fit the individuals grasp. Arrow heads were now metal and the concept made a fine axe.
Clubs were made with wood, ivory or jade. Some clubs attached to the wrist by a cord threaded through a hole in the club handle. In Hawaii and the Fiji Islands, clubs were embedded with shark teeth or shaped with saw like teeth along the edge. The clubs may also be adorned with the teeth of slain enemies.

The Plains Indians of North America used a long, thin handled stick called a counting coup.
Any blow struck against the enemy counted as a coup, but the most prestigious acts included touching an enemy warrior, with the hand or with a coup stick, then escaping unharmed. It was considered more honorable to risk confronting an enemy without killing him. The coup stick might have notches along the handle so the warrior can keep count of how many enemy he confronted.

The Bronze Age yielded to the Iron age. As weapons became more brutal, its seems humans became more aggressive.

Hurrah for the bra

Pre WW1 women wore corsets. Not the pretty, soft things we have in lingerie shops now. They were instruments of torture, binding and grinding. supports of whale bone or steel held a woman's torso so tightly she often swooned in the streets during hot days when she couldn't catch her breath.
The war started, America was in need of metals. 28,000 tons of metal gained when women graciously, perhaps joyfully, ripped off the corsets and sent them to the steel workers. from their generous donations, two battleships were built.
What fun we could have had in their naming. The USS Titsling and and her sister ship Double Trouble.
No longer bound for glory, America's women became vested in the war effort, busting out in the job market, aiding the economy while the men were away.
The birth of the bra came on the heels of the Roaring 20's. More comfort. More dancing. The girls had something to celebrate.

Pass Christian Mardi Gras Parade

We had such a fabulous day at the Pass Parade today. Whoot. What a way to celebrate Mardi Gras. Each year, each town across the Mississippi Gulf Coast has their own parade, but our family and friends tend to congregate at the Pass Christian parade every year. It all started years ago as a get together because a distant relative of my sister used to live on the parade route so we had access to a bathroom and a kitchen to serve food. But Hurricane Katrina took her relative's house and then he passed away a few years after that, so now we 'tailgate' by enjoying good food, beverage and fun. I was unable to attend last year due to chemotherapy weakening me so much. This year I wanted to go so bad. We always have loads of fun and this year was no exception. My brother-in-law fried wings while his brother fried everything else from corn dogs to chicken tenders. We also feasted on sausage balls, pasta salads, chips/dip, brownies, nestle toll house bars and chicken salad croussants. I said I wasn't going to drink, but Jeaneen, my sister, brought a batch of Mango Tangos so I had to have some. :) Something new we did this time, was rent a Port-a-Potty. You should of seen people looking at us when we were driving along hwy 90, towing this thing. It turned out to be the best decision: our own CLEAN private bathroom. What a blessing. Several people even offered us money to use our toilet. :) This year's Pass Parade-local term for the city of Pass Christian, MS' parade-consisted of 65 floats & one marching band. In a few of the parade picture's you can pick out vacant beach front property that hasn't been rebuilt since Hurricane Katrina. In fact, that's where we set up camp today, in an empty grass lot where a house used to stand.

So, you might be wondering what the heck Mardi Gras is. Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday. It refers to events of the carnival celebration ending on the day before Ash Wednesday, before the lent season, but it is not observed nationally throughout the US. It arrived in North America as a sedate French Catholic tradition in the late 17th Century with the Le Moyne brothers, who were sent by King Louis XIV to defend France's claim on the Louisiana Territory, which is present day Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. In 1703 Mardi Gras began with French settlers.

Here are a few pictures of today's festivities:

You can find more picture at my facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1108624493&ref=profile

or on myspace: www.myspace.com/debbiemacklin

Happy Mardi Gras ya'll,

Deb

Surviving as an Author

Everyone thinks if you are an author it's a full time job. We'd love it to be a full time job, but for the vast majority of us it's not. That doesn't mean that we quit thinking about what we are writing when we aren't busy writing.

Unfortunately I had to go to work today. Fortunately there's lots of work which means a better paycheck. Paychecks are important! So there I am at work and my mind is drifting over what my my characters are doing. (I work in a huge cube farm and I'm trying not to giggle.) It's quite simple. I left my characters in bed with a can of whipped cream! They will be stuck there until tomorrow night when I can rescue them from their predicament.

I know that I write in snatches of time that I can steal from busy days. I don't have the luxury to write full time, but the need to write is always with me. Writers write, that's what we do. It keeps us sane! As fast as we can write one novel there's another brewing in our brains.

Some authors plot everything out. I envy them. I know where my stories are going, but that doesn't mean I know every path the characters will take. I allow my characters to drive the story. I try to stay ahead of them so that I can steer them. They need to now what route to take to get where they are supposed to go, but I give them the freedom to sight see along the way. It's amazing what they will do with that freedom!

I do need to wrestle that can of whipped cream from my characters' hands. I had enough trouble convincing her that she didn't need to drag out the chocolate syrup too! It'll take them another thirty years before they will ever settle down, they're having too much fun. But isn't that part of finding true love? Unbridled enthusiasm and the willingness to excite and please the one you love?

I don't write erotic, just contemporary romance. And yes, it's always about finding true love.
E.