Swimming, training, stuff.

Connor won the MVP award for swimming this year!!!  We are SO proud of him!  Last year, he was pretty much the best candidate for the LVP (Least Valuable Player), but WHAT a massive difference he's made this season!  He not only qualified for the Meet of Champs, he raced in 7 events.  SEVEN.  He also managed to beat his best times by several seconds in almost every single race.  One race, he bettered his time by 10 seconds, which is an eternity in swimming.  Wow, I am so proud of him, I can barely stand it!  Here's Connor pictured next to his awesome swim coach, Dana Abbott...

Swimming is over for now, but we'll have Connor back in the pool before too long.  Also, he's coming up to train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with me at Jade Mountain...this should be fuuuuun!

Speaking of training, I'm trying something new.  Bas Rutten has an O2 Trainer that is supposed to improve your breathing and increase your stamina.  I've seen the training masks out there, but something about this one appealed to me, so I ordered it.  As an aging athlete, I want to keep working to improve, and figured something like this might help me in my constant fight against my asthma.  Admittedly, it looks a bit out of the ordinary...

The device comes with 14 different levels of difficulty, this being achieved by different caps that have gradually smaller holes in them.  To increase the difficulty, put a cap on there with a smaller hole, and it makes you breathe harder.  I'm currently on a number 4, and let me tell you, my sprints were WAY more interesting when using this thing.  In BJJ class later, I noticed that I was breathing a lot better than usual.  It's too soon to know for sure, and I've only used the thing twice, so I don't want to make overly optimistic claims for its efficacy, but the occurrence has been noted.  I'll keep using it and see how it goes.

In other news, Mage's Burden is still selling a few each day, and I'm ecstatic!!!  I'm just thrilled that folks are buying it, and I'm hoping that they enjoy it.  I'm still working on the paperback version, and my goal is to have it ready available on Amazon next week.  In the meantime, here's a link to the Kindle version...you know...in case you want to read it!  http://www.amazon.com/Mages-Burden-Book-Jidaan-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00KUKV4WS

Work on moving JMMA is continuing, and I'm optimistic.  The loan folks are looking over our application, and it's still moving along.  I've spoken to contractors and should have a handful of estimates very soon so that we'll have a better idea of what it's going to take to create our new Jade Mountain home.  Of course, I'll keep you all posted.  And by all, I mean the handful of you that actually read this thing.  ;-)

Thanks for stopping by!  Feel free to leave comments or holler at me on Facebook if you have something that you're dying to say.  Have a great day!!

My book is here! My book is here!!

That's right!!  My proofs are here!!  I'm pretty excited, as you might expect.  I've only been imagining this for over 20 years.  Now, they're in my hands and I can actually hoooooold them!!  I have only to look them over for any last errors, and then I'll authorize them for sale.  Soon, I'll have them available on Amazon.com, right alongside the Kindle version, then it'll be back to work on Book 2, Gart's Road.  I've been working on various aspects of GR for some time now, and things are getting clearer and clearer as I go, so I think it'll come a lot faster than MB did.  More characters are introducing themselves and I'm seeing their stories unfold.

I wish I could hurry the process, but I really can't.  I have trouble writing on a schedule, though I realize that this is most likely due to a lack of training in that regard.  As it is right now, I have to wait until I 'see' a scene before I can write it.  It's almost like having a faulty TV that works on occasion.  When it works, I write down what I see.  When it doesn't, I have to go find something else to do.  The good news is that I'm seeing more and more lately, and that means there's more writing on the horizon.

One day, I'll have the entire story written and published.  I'm really looking forward to that...these characters and scenes have been rattling around in my noggin for quite awhile, and they...want...OUT.

Mage's Burden for Kindle...you know you want it!