Friday, April 26, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
Learning to Run
I joined a gym to lose weight, gain strength, balance, flexibility and health. After having regularly worked out at the gym for one year, I am loath to report I gained 14 pounds! And no, it's not muscle. It's blubber.
Yes, I gobbled. But yes, I worked hard! I loved all the group exercise classes! I lifted barbells, spin cycled, Zumba'd and worked my core. I loved the yoga!
So, clearly, group fitness classes and half-derrièred efforts on the cardio equipment clearly were not working for me, other than bringing joy to my days. And yes, I'm more flexible but that's about it.
I said to myself, Sherry, look around. The same fat ladies that have been in the classes with you all year are still fat ladies. The ladies walking on the treadmills are fat. Hmm...the ladies pushing it on the cardio equipment all seem fit and trim. They always have. Thinking back to watching The Biggest Loser, the contestants were running on the treadmills most of the time. Running. Hmm...
And so it has come to pass that this little unathletic girl, the one always picked last when choosing teams at recess and in gym class (with a reluctant "Oh, alright, we'll take Sherry") has decided to learn to run before she turns 50 this summer.
I began with baby steps in March, voraciously reading all the beginning running magazines and websites I find. So scared of injury, trying to not push myself, yet push myself. I have already lost 5 of the 14 pounds from last year. And I am NOT dieting. Just "mindful eating".
I'm running outside now. Very slow. Running/walking. I'm at 2 miles in 40 minutes. I'm so tickled because the last time I ran outside, I actually wanted to run more than walk. So I did. Today it rained, so I ran on the treadmill with this playlist I made from my iTunes library, which I'm trying to navigate. It's on my iPod. I was worried I wouldn't want to run hard or finish, since I've been enjoying outside so much, but this music really kept me happy! Lots of songs have great memories. The Bee Gees hold a special place in my heart, I met them a few times, sigh. And I'm a Disney girl and love The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room. Conway Twitty, what memories. The Eagles, I've really just become attached to them this year. Sara Evans blows me right into her world. The Roy Orbison song, Candy Man, I heard Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees practicing it to cover at a concert. I had my ear to the door. And got busted, LOL. Tony Bennett, gotta love him! Saw him in concert last year. Go if you can!
Words 4:19 Bee Gees
The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room 2:39 Disney's Greatest, Vol. 3
Tight Fittin' Jeans 2:50 Conway Twitty
Three Chords And The Truth 4:04 Sara Evans
Nights on Broadway 4:41 Bee Gees
Hotel California 6:30 The Eagles
Edge of the universe 5:16 Bee Gees
Candy Man 3:34 Roy Orbison
The Best Is Yet To Come 3:40 Tony Bennett & Diana Krall
Are You Havin' Any Fun? 2:46 Tony Bennett & Elvis Costello
Anyhow, every time a lose one pound, I treat myself to purchase one song. I've gotten Adele, Lady Gaga and The Eagles already. Every five pounds, I get a new bottle of nail polish. I'm thinking a new purse at ten pounds. My goal is thirty pounds.
As the little engine that could said, "I think I can, I think I can. I know I can, I know I can."
I encourage you to make yourself a special playlist from songs that have lovely memories or conjure up fun times to come. Get moving!
Yes, I gobbled. But yes, I worked hard! I loved all the group exercise classes! I lifted barbells, spin cycled, Zumba'd and worked my core. I loved the yoga!
So, clearly, group fitness classes and half-derrièred efforts on the cardio equipment clearly were not working for me, other than bringing joy to my days. And yes, I'm more flexible but that's about it.
I said to myself, Sherry, look around. The same fat ladies that have been in the classes with you all year are still fat ladies. The ladies walking on the treadmills are fat. Hmm...the ladies pushing it on the cardio equipment all seem fit and trim. They always have. Thinking back to watching The Biggest Loser, the contestants were running on the treadmills most of the time. Running. Hmm...
And so it has come to pass that this little unathletic girl, the one always picked last when choosing teams at recess and in gym class (with a reluctant "Oh, alright, we'll take Sherry") has decided to learn to run before she turns 50 this summer.
I began with baby steps in March, voraciously reading all the beginning running magazines and websites I find. So scared of injury, trying to not push myself, yet push myself. I have already lost 5 of the 14 pounds from last year. And I am NOT dieting. Just "mindful eating".
I'm running outside now. Very slow. Running/walking. I'm at 2 miles in 40 minutes. I'm so tickled because the last time I ran outside, I actually wanted to run more than walk. So I did. Today it rained, so I ran on the treadmill with this playlist I made from my iTunes library, which I'm trying to navigate. It's on my iPod. I was worried I wouldn't want to run hard or finish, since I've been enjoying outside so much, but this music really kept me happy! Lots of songs have great memories. The Bee Gees hold a special place in my heart, I met them a few times, sigh. And I'm a Disney girl and love The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room. Conway Twitty, what memories. The Eagles, I've really just become attached to them this year. Sara Evans blows me right into her world. The Roy Orbison song, Candy Man, I heard Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees practicing it to cover at a concert. I had my ear to the door. And got busted, LOL. Tony Bennett, gotta love him! Saw him in concert last year. Go if you can!
Words 4:19 Bee Gees
The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room 2:39 Disney's Greatest, Vol. 3
Tight Fittin' Jeans 2:50 Conway Twitty
Three Chords And The Truth 4:04 Sara Evans
Nights on Broadway 4:41 Bee Gees
Hotel California 6:30 The Eagles
Edge of the universe 5:16 Bee Gees
Candy Man 3:34 Roy Orbison
The Best Is Yet To Come 3:40 Tony Bennett & Diana Krall
Are You Havin' Any Fun? 2:46 Tony Bennett & Elvis Costello
Anyhow, every time a lose one pound, I treat myself to purchase one song. I've gotten Adele, Lady Gaga and The Eagles already. Every five pounds, I get a new bottle of nail polish. I'm thinking a new purse at ten pounds. My goal is thirty pounds.
As the little engine that could said, "I think I can, I think I can. I know I can, I know I can."
I encourage you to make yourself a special playlist from songs that have lovely memories or conjure up fun times to come. Get moving!
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Accentuate the Positive
I previously blogged about my last ditch effort in promotion to pull my twelve published books out of the undertow of millions of novels and make them available to whomever might enjoy reading them.
I offered Persuasive Lips, the prequel to The Good Girls of Washington series, free. Two thousand people downloaded it. One person gave it a five star review. That was it. Not only did nobody buy the series, nobody bought the first book in the series. Nobody bought my back list. Nobody bought any of my books. My sales ground to an abrupt and utter halt. I've had my books at every price point from 99 cents to $9.99. The price makes no difference, nobody is interested in my books. Just me.
With a big smile, I quietly say "Uncle." It was a heck of a ride and I will always treasure the friends I've made along the way.
I will not be polishing the two first drafts I have tucked away.
I will no longer be obsessively promoting my books on Twitter and retweeting others.
I will probably pull all of my Indie published books from the retailers in the summer, before my birthday. Perhaps sooner. I still have Thousand Dollar Pharaoh under contract with Eternal Press so that will be out there a few more years collecting virtual cobwebs and dust bunnies.
The reason I am going to unpublish is quite simply that a few sales causes lots of extra work on my taxes. It will be nice not to have to file a Schedule C for 2014. Not to mention it will be great not to obsessively check for my sales only to see there are none.
To put a positive spin on my thirteen year writing career, I have dashed off a new little biography:
Sherry Silver wrote the humorous romance and mystery novels she enjoys reading. Learning to Run! Loves Yoga, Disney, Mad Men, General Hospital, The Middle and Chicago Fire. Last paying job: EMT. She treasures her present position as a SAHM.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Book Review: Miss Grey's Shady Lover
By Diane Scott Lewis
Nicely Naughty. I've only sampled the first book in the wildly bestselling series of which this fun story spoofs. But I absolutely loved reading this short fiction, from beginning to end. Ms. Lewis' voice is perfect for the time period. I loved all the tongue in cheek (and elsewhere!) exploits in Lord Libidinous' seduction of the very proper Miss Grey. This one is most definitely a screen-tapper. If you like erotic romance, this one is lovely.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Theater Review: "I Love Lucy" Live on Stage
Theater Review:
"I Love Lucy" Live on Stage
By Sherry Silver
My romantic husband finally persuaded me to take the overnight train to Chicago. In the dead of winter. I agreed because he dangled tickets to "I Love Lucy" Live on Stage. Squee!
We saw the show at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place in Chicago, Illinois.
I was so excited, I insisted on going into the theater without him, I wanted to be seated and soak up the surroundings. He needed to stay in the lobby to make a phone call about our accommodations on the train ride home. Yes, he had to do it at that specific time, it's complicated.
Anyhow, while I was people watching in my seat, I noticed a woman who was perfectly dressed for the theater. Red pillbox hat, little purse, pumps and a dress full of cherries. I thought she could have been in the audience back in Lucy's day. She'd fit right in. Of course she did...
The cheery chubby lady, Mrs. Eugenia Swanson, had a drink in her hand and was mixing with the theater goers. Asking how they got there. She took the bus. Three days from Dubuque. And what was the man doing playing with a light box? (His cell phone). She was quite the convivial neighbor. I soon realized she was part of the show. The pre-show warm-up woman. And oh was she good at ad-libbing.
When my husband took his seat, I asked if he got us a room on the train. "Yes. But as soon as the ticket agent was on the phone, this woman stood next to me talking so loud I couldn't hear. She was hollering that the TV was in color. I thought she was 'special' so I ignored her."
Yep, that same actress, Sara Sevigny, was spot on :)
Sirena Irwin was a beautiful Lucy Ricardo. Bill Mendieta was handsomer than Ricky Ricardo. Joanna Daniels had Ethel Mertz's mannerisms down perfectly and Curtis Pettyjohn played irascible Fred Mertz.
The gist of the play was that you, the audience, were transported to Desilu Studios back in the day and you watched a live taping of two episodes of the show, complete with live commercials and flub-ups.
We enjoyed the second episode more and the commercials were so catchy with their song and dance numbers.
I highly recommend this show to everyone.
I Love Lucy!
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