decision made

You may recall when we last met that I was wondering which project I should complete: either finish Esther's newest adventure, After Camelot: Esther's Quest, or complete the story about Grace Nies Fletcher. . 

I received a reply to my plea, and the upshot is, I've decided to finish Esther's story. Common sense would have told me that, if I had been more receptive to my instincts, rather than being driven by the two old ladies who were acting in a decidedly un-ladylike fashion. 

I did, however, put a new title on my Grace Nies Fletcher book: Fletcher, Grace Nies Fletcher, and Me.

And I need to add one more little "strange happening" to that book. 
Besides naming one of my characters "Fletcher" and having the setting in the Himalayas (both relating to Mrs. Fletcher) I forgot that at one point, I had named my editing business, "Graceworks Productions." 

I initially thought of the religious connotation, that His grace works in all my life, but it's probably more of an influence by that lady, Grace Nies Fletcher. 

Anybody else have that kind of experience? Like, it needs spooky background music, doesn't it? 

Oh, well, it is what it is. So now I'm off to add that little notation to my draft of Fletcher, Grace Nies Fletcher, and Me. 
And, I'm not sure all the coincidences have been found yet. 
Stay tuned. 

Esther Wooster vs. Grace Nies Fletcher

I'm still writing on the sequel to The Unexplored Heart, to be titled Esther's Quest,After Camelot: Esther's Quest, starring that saucy Esther Wooster, who has nagged me incessantly since the very day I wrote The End to my second historical novel. 

She appeared at my desk, portfolio in hand, stuffed with more research papers, and said, "You just think you're finished with me. I want my own book." 

And so she shall have it. 

However, I am also cognizant of another determined woman who is also nagging me to write a book about her. She was my writing mentor and friend from many years ago, who has influenced my writing, subconsciously at first, and now I see how she still influences my writings. It's called, Fletcher, Grace Nies Fletcher and Me. Why else would I have named one of the lead characters "Fletcher." And the setting would be in the Himalayas, where Mrs. Fletcher had traveled to interview the Dali Lama?

Be aware that these two strong-willed women are even now struggling (even physically) to become the first to be published, to the point where they got too close to an antique mirror, upended it and sent it crashing to the floor. I know it must have been them; nobody, not even the cat, was in the room with me. 

"Ladies, ladies," I chastised them. "Please be patient. I'm working on both your projects." 

Of course, they disappeared, leaving me to pick up shards of the mirror. 

So I ask you, which woman should have her book finished and published first? 

Esther's book has a few more chapters to be revised. 

Mrs. Fletcher's book needs a few revisions and additions to the notes I had taken while in her writing class many years ago. 

Opinions, please. They'll be back soon. 

The Lady With Lupus: Physical Therapy

My neurologist wrote a prescription for me about six weeks ago to have some physical therapy to assist in my balance issues. I got not one, but two therapists: An Occupational Therapist who came Mondays and Wednesdays, and a Physical Therapist who came on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The OT concentrated more exercises for the upper body (hand weights, etc.) and the PT concentrated on the lower body strengthening. 
I can certainly tell I've been exercising because my muscles tend to kind of be sore....not hurting, but I know they're been used lately. 
I went back today to this neurologist and he tested me again for the benign essential tremors. None showed up. 
Essentially, what happened was that I also went to an ENT doc to find out why my balance was being affected, and an occasional dizzy spell. 
It seems we all have crystals in our ears. (Never heard of that). They hang on to the little hairs that line the ear canals, until something happens to cause them to abandon ship, so to speak. Mine had evidently all fallen off in my left ear, slipped down into an ear canal and rattled around where it didn't belong. Thus, the dizziness. 
So the treatment was: I was on an exam table and the technician put a mask on me, with one eye covered, and I was instructed to focus on the window. I did. Then we did the other eye, same thing. Then she had some kind of "tractor" device that she ran over my head, vibrating in a rather heavy manner. Then she instructed me to turn on my side, where she did it again. Then the other side. Finally, I was allowed to sit up, where I immediately felt like I was falling off the edge of the earth. Not just the exam table....the entire earth. It was the worst feeling ever, but it passed, thank God. 
She gave me written instructions: for the next 2 nights, sleep on my right side, at a 45 degree angle. That's easy for them to say; I always go to sleep on my left side, and perfectly flat, too. Those two nights were the worst nights I've had in a long time. Oh, and I couldn't bend over, either. 
So a week later, I was to go back and see if the treatment worked. I was once again in the treatment room, dreading the ordeal again. But a young tech came in and asked, "Are you absolutely, positively sure you haven't had any more dizziness?" I replied, "absolutely, positively sure." Then I was free to go, with an invitation to come back if I ever needed this treatment again. 
I told the neurologist about this treatment this morning, and that evidently people with lupus are at most risk for the little crystals to fly off and go where they're wreaking havoc, because the last questionnaire had the single word: Lupus? 
I checked it, "Yes." Another gift that keeps on giving in my lupus life. 
At least now, I'll know what to do about it.