Summer’s coming! No teachers! No homework! No school rules! It’s a kid’s favorite time of year! For parents, it depends . . . on if your kids can find things to do that don’t get them, or you, in trouble. TV is an option, but there are others. Better ones. If you need some, here are 15. If you’re feeling anxious now, here’s the link for some options, AND their illustrations.

                Link: 15 Things You Could Achieve Tonight Instead Of Watching TV (cablecompare.com)

​ Marci from Cablecompare.com sent me this idea a month ago. My plan – to share their link with you. Then to write about their list with my own unique retired teacher spin. My advice, ask your kids what fits them. Then let the summer flow. Do what fits your family. Change it up when needed. Then you’ll all have a better summer. Blink . . . and it will be over! Summer always goes way too fast.

​​Reading, Writing, and Artwork (#1, 2, 5): You could do these together or separately. With my examples, don’t worry about perfection. With my 2nd graders, if they marked a word, I’d correct the spelling. If they didn’t, I’d let it go. The important thing is that your kids enjoy what they’re doing. You don’t have to do one every day, unless your child wants to. One a week is enough! ​Feel free to switch them up. Variety is the spice of life!

Example 1 – Join a summer reading program – record your books in a journal/calendar/sheet of paper. It doesn’t matter. The journal part can be as simple as writing the title and I love this book/hate it/because. Add an illustration, and you’re done!

Example 2 – You could sign up for something like Storyworth, the one you’ve seen on TV. Let your kids interview you, write it up, revise, and illustrate it with their own artwork or by selecting photos. If they’re not comfortable writing, you could do it, and let them help you revise it. They can listen to it on the computer on an ap like narrator, or they could listen to you read it out loud. They’ll hear the things they want to change, which is what you want them to do. Remember, perfection is over-rated, especially when it comes to kids.
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Example 3 – Write letters to a relative or a friend. If they answer, it’s a bonus. Everyone loves getting mail!

Take a Walk and Get Fit (#3 & 4): If you’re walking, that’s getting fit for me. It doesn’t have to be walking around the block. Example 1 – It could be walking along a beach, through a museum or the mall, even a toy store.

Getting fit doesn’t have to be calisthenics every day. Example 2 – Kids need to play whether it’s a team sport like soccer or baseball. A backyard game counts. So does an afternoon at the pool or swimming classes. I’d even count a playdate at a friend’s house.

Summer is downtime for kids. School pushes them to meet standards, to pass achievement tests. They need a break, and a break that’s fun. Summer’s coming, and the biggest thing I wish for you . . . is FUN!

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              Here are 5 more things you can do instead of watching TV. Thank you, Cablecompare.com!
                Link: 15 Things You Could Achieve Tonight Instead Of Watching TV (cablecompare.com)

​Make Dinner, Learn Something New, Family Time, & Do Chores (#6, 7, 8, 10): Would you believe you can combine these too? Here are a few ideas. Example 1 – Think cooking! Plan a meal and cook it as a family. There are lots of great skills that are new for kids, and chores to be done from setting the table to cleaning up.

Example 2 – Learn something new. Look around your community. Places like libraries and YMCA’s offer classes, especially during the summer. When you’re on vacation, keep your eyes open for new things to try, like boogie boarding or hunting for seashells. When you’re finished, don’t forget to clean up and put things away.

Example 3 – Clean as a family. You could pick one room, or set a time limit like an hour. Let little ones help. It makes them feel big, and they learn real life skills. When you’re done, have fun together. You earned it!
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​Call a Friend (#9): Example 1 – How many kids miss their friends over summer vacation? This is a great way to promote social skills and to arrange playdates.
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Example 2 – Don’t forget your family! They love hearing from you. You can take turns, or put it on speakerphone and let the conversation flow.

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Here are 5 more things you can do instead of watching TV. Thank you, Cablecompare.com!
Link: 15 Things You Could Achieve Tonight Instead Of Watching TV (cablecompare.com)

Make Plans & Work on Them (#14 & 15): In other words, set a goal and work towards it. You could set one for yourself to accomplish by the end of the summer. You could set one as a family. Then, figure out the steps to get you there. Example 1 – If your goal is to read 10 chapter books this summer, try reading a chapter book a week. By the end of the summer you’ll have read 10 – 12 books.  
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Example 2 – If your family goal is to take a vacation together, then you’ll need to figure out how much your family can spend, look at places to go, pick one, make reservations, pack your bags, and go. Every voyage starts with that first step!
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Some Ideas – Redecorate, Expand your Horizons, or Join a Club (#11, 12, 13):  Example 1 – Set a goal to redecorate a room, like maybe the family room. The easiest and cheapest way is to change the paint color. Another small step is to watch yard sales and thrift shops for treasures. If you have a problem, like the toys are everywhere, look for storage. When you finish redecorating, you’ll have a brand-new room that everyone can enjoy.

Example 2 – It reminds me of #7, learn something new. Whatever you call it, look around for ideas. Maybe you want to try photography or crafts. The local library or art store might have something that will fit you or your family.If you go to the Y, look for sports or activities to join. Maybe even a club, like rock climbing. Keep your eyes open for opportunities. Give them a try. Even if you don’t like them, you’ll have tried something new.
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Finally, remember summertime is downtime. Don’t push so hard to set goals and achieve them, that you forget to have fun. Kids grow up. Enjoy your time together. It ends all too soon. Here’s to making the summer of 2022 the best one ever!

​Have you traveled on an airplane since Covid? I hadn’t, not until last week. It was an airline I’ve never flown, but it’s the worst trip I’ve ever taken. Ever! It was that bad!

I was flying to Texas to see family. I had a delay, but I made it to my next flight on time. Thank goodness! But going home to Ohio . . . it was awful! Here’s the story of that flight, and what I learned. ​

​​ Part 1 – Delays, Cancellation, and Falling Apart:  It all started with one delay. It rolled through the whole afternoon. Four hours later we finally boarded the plane. We made it out to the runway, sat there for like 15 minutes, then returned to the airport. It was so depressing. An hour later my flight was cancelled.

I thought I was handling it. I read my kindle all afternoon, snacked on popcorn, and made jokes about sleeping in the airport. It all fell apart when I was waiting in line for fast food that wasn’t. When I finally got mine, there was no place to sit and eat.  
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I was at the end of my rope, close to tears. That’s when my husband texted me some great advice. He said I should get a room for the night. I listened. I’m glad I did. The 6 or 7 hours of sleep helped me get through the next day. Would you believe it was even worse?
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​ Things I Did Right:
1. Bringing my kindle so I’d have something to do.
2. Taking a walk every hour or so. Exercise is always a good thing.
3. I listened when my husband had a better option.

Things I Did Wrong:
1. I ate junk food. It was popcorn, but it didn’t fuel my body. It let me fall apart. Next time – I’ll eat a better lunch and dinner, so my body’s fueled for speed bumps. They’re all over the airport.
2. I planned to sleep there. I’m a diabetic with insulin shots and pills to take. Stress and lack of sleep will increase my blood sugar level. That’s a terrible thing for me. Next time – I’ll look for a hotel as soon as my flight is cancelled. Self-care is important when navigating an airport.

​Part 2 – More Delays, A Missed Flight, and A Lost Phone:  The next day, well, it got even worse. It was a downhill slide that didn’t stop until I got back to Detroit at 10:00PM.

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​It started with an early wake-up call. My alarm got me up at 5:30 so I could be at the airport by 6:00AM. I thought my flight was at 8. I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time. If you know me, you know that I’m not an early bird. My worst nightmare – waking up at 8 and missing my flight.

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​​ By the time I arrived at the airport and grabbed a light breakfast, OK, Chex Mix, my flight time moved back to 10:10AM. I wished they’d told me earlier. I would have slept another 2 hours. But I thought let it go.

Within 10-15 minutes, someone stopped to chat. She remembered me from the night before and asked why I was there so early. Would you believe my flight was delayed the night before, after I left the airport? My airline, whom I won’t identify, and whom I will never fly again EVER, didn’t message me. URGH!

​​So I settled back into my kindle and waited. At 9:30 . . . nothing. At 10 . . . the flight was delayed, again. I kept reading. I tried to remain calm and focused. Thank goodness I got at least 6 hours of sleep! I also picked up some popcorn to get me through. It helped, a little.

At 11:10 . . . nothing. No change, and my plane had been sitting outside since it cancelled the night before. I watched and waited. About 11:30 the airline announced we’d be leaving soon. I wondered when soon would come . . . this afternoon . . . this evening . . . maybe tomorrow?!

​​There was another flight arriving from Dallas, departing again in the gate next door. The airline announced they’d be leaving as soon as their plane arrived, and, prepped for departure again. They also announced anyone who had early connecting flights leaving before 12 should speak to the desk. Mine left at 1:15. I knew it’d be close, but I thought I’d be safe. NOT!

​We finally left at 12:30 after sitting on the runway for 30 minutes. There were 4 planes ahead of us. The flight to Dallas took 1 hour and 30 minutes. TROUBLE AGAIN! My flight left without me!

​​By the time we finally took off, I was hangry. I’d gone through worry over my next flight, plus hunger. Chex Mix and popcorn won’t keep you going when you’re stressed out.
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​Then the airlines did it. They served first class. I was the row behind, and I got nothing. They cancelled my flight and made me pay for a hotel room, but they couldn’t give me a coke and pretzels. URGH! When they finally did, I was the last one served. Surprisingly the first-class flight attendant could take away my trash – even though she couldn’t serve me. URGH again!

The first employee sent me to gate 28. No one was there. Figures! Then I ran into my favorite flight attendant from 1st class. At least she pointed out a gate, and it had someone there. SAVED!
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I went over, got my flight changed, and thought I was on the road to recovery. I found my gate, then stopped to find a place to eat. I lucked out! I had the best waitress, best food . . . but that’s when disaster struck. AGAIN!

​​ I settled in with my drink, food on the way. I had time to text my husband my new flight information. The only problem . . . NO PHONE. I made myself sit still. With my heart pounding and panic gushing through me, I could barely do it once, let alone twice.
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After the 2nd search, my waitress came back. She asked if I was OK. I said no. That my phone was gone. It was all I could do not to cry. I didn’t have my food yet. She offered to let me go look. I thought for 2 seconds, then decided I needed to sit, to eat. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I needed food, badly, and I needed to gather my composure.

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​​Part 3 –The Search and My Return Home: After lunch, I began the search for my phone. First up – finding the lost and found. My waitress couldn’t help, but I remembered seeing an airline information room.

I stopped by a gate along the way and asked the attendant to try my phone. It rang, but no one answered. His guess, my phone got turned into a supervisor who locked it away.
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My next stop, the airline information room . . . it was absolutely useless. They couldn’t help with the lost phone or with calling my husband. But at least they gave me the terminal and gate number for the lost and found. 
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​I made it to the right terminal, the right gate, but the wrong room for the lost and found. Would you believe it was next door? They hadn’t gotten in any phones all day either. I asked to make a call but wound up going next door again. Do you ever feel like you’re chasing your tail?
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I finally made my call. My hero made sure I gave my husband the flight number, passed me a couple tissues, and looked up the arrival time for Detroit. She brushed off my thanks, but I repeated it. Kindness means the most when your life is just plain horrible. 

​I fought to keep back tears during the call. Afterwards I took a minute to gather myself together, to figure out what to do next. I had 2 hours before my flight. I decided to take a few minutes to backtrack to see if I could find my phone. Nothing, but walking off anxiety helped. So did a kind supervisor who checked her gates. Kindness makes everything easier. 
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​It was time to head to the gate. I was over an hour early. My flight wasn’t on the screen, so I settled in to wait, and to read. Finally about 30 minutes before my flight, the screen lit up . . . Denver. Not Detroit! I panicked!

I ran to the nearest attendant for help. He said I had time, then sent me on to the right gate. I had another 30 minutes to wait. Another delay, and the gates changed on me. I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever get home.

​When I finally got on that last plane, I was thrilled! I was in the back row of an airbus, but I didn’t care. I was finally going home after 2 days of delays and cancellations. My husband was in Detroit, waiting on me. I got in at 10PM, then home to Wapak at midnight. My trip was finally over! The next one – I’m driving!  

​​Things I Did Right:
1. Eating a good meal, especially after I’d lost my phone.
2. Retracing my steps to find it. Exercise is good for your body and your brain.
3. Repaying kindness with a sincere thank-you.
Things I Did Wrong:
1. I carried my phone in my hand when I got into Dallas. Next time – I’ll keep it in my bag. Losing things is too easy when you’re stressed out.
2. When I left the gate with my new flight, I didn’t double check to see if I’d left anything out. Next time – I’ll make sure I have everything in my bag, before I take a step in any direction.
3. Losing my phone upset me. Next time – I’ll start looking for that silver lining sooner. I got a new phone, and it’s better than my old one.
Scheduling Flights:
1. I will stay away from small airports. They’re having trouble staffing their flights.  Next time – If I’m flying into Hobby, I’ll take Southwest. It’s their Houston hub.

​If you’re like me, you could try this . . . I window-shop with my emails. Looking makes me happy. It’s like a treasure hunt, and the treasure is finding a dog who makes me click on his picture.  

My emails start with a header from Adopt a Pet. Underneath are photos like Mini’s. All you have to do is click, and you can read more about her. Sometimes there are more pictures. Either way it’s fun to look, and it’s free!
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I used to look at poodles and doodles, but now I search for pugs  and bulldogs. I clicked on Mini, but she’s already been adopted, and that  makes me happy. I love looking!
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​Here’s one of the dogs who tempted me. The tilt of her head, the look in her eyes. She seemed curious, like she wanted to know what was going on.

She also reminds me of my dog Leia. She used to lay with her back legs in the same position. It looks like it’d hurt, but it was her favorite way to relax. I always read the information below the picture. It’s fun to look, to imagine her as my dog. 
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​This pair of dogs caught my eye. They’re bonded, like best friends, so they should be adopted together. My favorite part – how they’re alert, but also ready to chill out. Me too!
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Puppies are just plain cute! I love this one’s face and imagining what he’s up to. Plus looking beats adopting. No puddles!
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If you’re like me and you can’t have a dog, looking through emails is the next best thing. You get some of the fun, but none of the work. And who knows where it might lead?!

Part 1 – Me and Storyworth:  Have you seen Storyworth in ads on TV? I have. I almost got it for my mother for Christmas. There were things I wanted to know about her, but my husband and I thought it would be too hard, even if I did the writing. Now I’m glad I didn’t. Mom died in early December, but I wish I’d been able to do this five years ago.

​It turns out someone in our family got Storyworth for Christmas. Me! It was from my daughter, and now every Monday, she gives me new homework . . . every Monday! That’s when I get a new email prompt from Storyworth. I’m 4 behind, and I’ve never been late on homework . . . ever!
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​The first photo was from Storyworth’s Facebook page. This one is from the top of their webpage. I’d never seen it, until I started putting together this post. It’s a treasure! It’s a letter from the founder of Storyworth that tells their story. I’ll let it speak for itself. It’s worth reading!

​You can read the letter, but you can also listen to the video. I didn’t, but you can go to their website and listen. I believe that the young man is one of the founders, Nick Baum, and the older man is his father. I love their story, even though I didn’t listen (I had this blog to write).

​Meet the founders, Nick and Krista Baum. I love mom and pop businesses! I read that Nick’s from Stockholm and grew up in France. I bet he has some stories to pass onto his own family. I hope they find time to write them down. Their kids will love them!

Meet Sarah Christian, the customer care lead. Her team is easy to work with! I’m known for my questions, and someone from Storyworth answered within 24 hours.

Both questions were about formatting pictures. BTW – I learned the best strategy is to put all your photos at the bottom of your answer. If you have 2, 3, or 4 pictures, then take a screenshot. Put it at the bottom.
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Part 2 – My Storyworth Account: This is my homepage for my year-long adventure on Storyworth. Normally I don’t see it. The question I’m answering has a link. I click on it, paste in my answer and a photo or two. Then I click save. But if I’m editing, or want to know where I’m at, this is where I go to check-in.  

​Here are the first five stories I wrote for my daughter. I answered them back in January. That’s when I was able to keep up with my Storyworth homework. 

​Post 9 is about my childhood pets. When I submitted it, Storyworth sent my daughter an email. She’s my editor. She started this project so I want her to be happy with the results, but I also want to make sure my writing is clear to her. And to anyone else who reads it.

She knows some things from my childhood but not everything. I wanted to make sure I wrote enough . . . not too much, or too little. When I wrote about my childhood pets, she wanted to include our dog Leia. I almost added it into post 9, but then I decided question 11 was a better fit.

#11 asked, ‘Who inspires you?’ I answered, ‘The characters in my work in progress (WIP).’ Then I wrote about Leia and her picture book story. It took 11 years to get it agent-ready. That’s super hard!

Then I added in Leia’s history with our family, like how she came to be Leia Millenia Beach. OOPS! I forgot about the name part for Storyworth, but I can’t tell everything! Even here. I don’t want this book to be Harry Potter long. Then my kids wouldn’t read it either!
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​Part 3 – How I Write and Edit My Posts: Here are the basic steps I take to answer a Storyworth question.
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1. I jot down a list of things I want to write about. It’s quick, fast, and dirty. For Leia, I wrote picture book, choosing her, coming home, and best things.

2. Then I start writing, first sentences, then paragraphs, about each idea on the list. I don’t worry. I just put my answers into the computer.

3. Next, I edit. I listen to each paragraph on my computer. (I use narrator.). I don’t move on to a new paragraph until it feels right. I add and delete words. I move sentences around until I’m ready. It’s better, but not perfect.

​4. Then I do another round of revision. It’s never just right on the first round, or the second one either. Every time I make a change, it uncovers something else. When I listen to my writing, I hear my mistakes and change them. I’m done when those mistakes are gone, when I like how the words sound altogether.

5. Next I find photos to fit the post. Usually I pick one or two, and I take a screen shot of them together.

6. Now I’m ready to go into Storyworth. I find the right question, paste in my words, add in the photos, and click submit.
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7. Storyworth emails my daughter, and she checks my work. If she finds an error, I do another round of edits until it’s just right.

​Here’s a finished question. It looks like a chapter book to me, but my daughter likes them this length. I need to go back and edit my early pictures. I couldn’t get them side by side the way I wanted. Now I know how – screenshot them together. 

If you want to remember your family’s history, I’d take a look at Storyworth. Your posts can be as short or as long as you’d like, and you’ll have your family history, plus photos, in one book.

Part 1:   Have you ever wanted to escape? You can – if you’re in Wapakoneta, Ohio on April 2nd. Just stop in Riverside Art Center anytime from 10:30 – 1:30. I’ll be doing a brand-new activity for kids – Escape to the Lake. I’ll be their guide. Your kids will write and draw about how they’ll have fun, and best of all – it’s free!

If you can’t make it to Wapak, you can schedule an event with me. I can come in person, or I can zoom with you. I love to work with kids! It’s why I still substitute – to stay connected to kids, families, and schools.  If a visit isn’t possible, try one of my lake books. They both have a story with illustrations from me, and journal pages for you. You’ll get to be my co-author, my co-illustrator.
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Part 2 – Escape with Lake Fun for You and Me:  There are two ways you can escape to the lake, and your child can choose their own way to go, whether they meet me in person, on zoom, or in one of my books.
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Lake Fun for You and Me is one choice. It’s my lake picture book. My story and illustrations are on the left side of each page. The right side looks a lot like this journal page, except it includes the family scavenger hunt results. There’s room for you to write and draw about your escape. There’s also room to do your own family scavenger hunt too.  If you have a copy of my book, you’ll get to be my co-author and co-illustrator. 

I don’t know how many revisions I did to get Lake Fun ready to publish. I started in June of 2020 and finished in April 2021, so it was quite a few. I can help your child do a first draft and encourage them to keep working until it’s just right, whether they put it in Lake Fun or into a journal of their own.
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Here are a couple of the ideas that made their way into my book. Every one of them was something my family did whenever we escaped to our lake. They’re the things that Zoe and her family did in Lake Fun and in Zoe’s Scavenger Hunt Fun too.

When Zoe’s Scavenger Hunt Fun launched in 2021, I used my illustrations to make a top 10 list of ways to have fun at the lake. Take a peek at #8 Cannonballing off the Dock and #7 Kayaking. My family did both on our vacations, and I hope yours will too, when you get the chance to escape to your lake.
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Part 3 – Escape with Zoe’s Scavenger Hunt Fun: This is the second way to escape to the lake with me – in person, on zoom, or in one of my books.
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Zoe’s Scavenger Hunt Fun is my other lake book. The chapters and illustrations are at the front. I saved room at the back for you to write and draw your own escape. Your pages as co-author and illustrator are altogether. 

I don’t know how many revisions I did for Zoe either. I had an editor at BiblioKids. We started work in September and finished in November. First we converted my picture book into chapters. Then we did a couple rounds of revisions to make the story fit its new format. We did the same thing with the illustrations. I’ll help your child revise their first draft, and I’ll work with them until they think their story is just right, just like my editor did.
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Here are a few more ideas that found their way into my lake books. My family had fun with them and so did Zoe, in both stories. 

These illustrations came from that top 10 list of ways to have fun at the lake, and they were two of my kids’ favorites. #5 is Tubing. My husband used to play ‘Crack the Whip’ with the boat and the tube. The kids loved it.
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#4 is Wakeboarding. My adult kids and husband still do it. I’m their spotter. My job is to shout when they go down. Then we swing around to pick them up. Safety first – you don’t want another boat to get too close when they’re alone in the water.

If you’re free April 1st, I hope you’ll stop by Riverside Art Center in Wapakoneta, Ohio. You’ll find me at the kids’ table, helping them escape to the lake. I hope I’ll be busy!

If you can’t make it to Riverside, we can escape together in a zoom session. It’s the next best thing, but if that’s impossible, try out one of my books. Your kids can contact me on my website, and I’ll be sure to answer. I love to help readers, writers, and illustrators.
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                               PS – This is my family’s favorite illustration from the book. Mine too!
​                    Here’s the link if you’d like to watch this post as a video.       Link: Watch | Facebook

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​Part 4 – An Unexpected Ending:  I thought I was done with this post. I already did my video. Then after taping it, I realized I’d forgotten something you might want – my top ten list.

​My post from March of 2021 started with the chapter book version of Zoe’s scavenger hunt. Here’s the link to her top ten images to help you escape.                    Link: Rinda Beach - Blog - Rinda Beach

Part 5 – Striking Gold:  I couldn’t believe what I found last night when I was updating my vault . . . a video of Zoe’s Top Ten list.  Here’s the link for a final escape.               Link: Watch | Facebook
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Part 6 – A Photo Finish: 
​Meet a few of the kids who came to Riverside Art Center to escape to the lake with me. 

All they needed was me, my lake books, and their imagination.
Riverside Art Center supplied everything else.

Now it’s time to send a big thank you to Riverside!
​They let me try out my new activity for kids, and they were the perfect hosts!

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​Tonight, I have a Guest Writer, Justin Bennett, from  Blog – Healthy Fit. He asked to write a post for me about Reset Trips. He sent me this post at the perfect time. I think we all need a reset from Covid, gas prices, and now the news from the Ukraine. ​

​Everyone loves a vacation, but a self-care reset trip provides another level of benefits. According to researchers, many travelers are looking for places to de-stress and relax. Any place you decide to go for your next vacation should have an element of soul-filling and self-care benefits. Here are five suggestions, each with something special to offer, brought to you, courtesy of author Rinda Beach.

​                                                                    1. Crowd-Free Vacation in Wapakoneta
For some, the perfect self-care getaway is full of quiet spaces and interesting local history. Wapakoneta, Ohio, is the perfect small-town experience with plenty to do and learn. It's home to the Armstrong Air and Space Museum, known as The Moon Base, and you can stroll through the community without all the stress of crowds. If you've been thinking about living the peace of small-town life, Wapakoneta has all the charm of the midwest and isn't far from Lake Erie. 

​​If you can’t make the drive to Wapak, click on the link above, ‘The Moon Base.’ It’s the next best thing to being here. Don’t forget to take a look at the local museums where you live. It’s a great way to reset, support your local community, and save gas money!

                                                                          2. Beach Vacation in the Caymans
What is more relaxing than hearing the ocean waves, and where is a better beach vacation than the Caribbean? Palm Heights in the Cayman Islands is a place for culture, cuisine, and overall wellness. This beautiful resort rested on Seven Mile Beach offers spa treatments and ocean views from every room. You may never want to leave. Thankfully, that isn't a problem because the island offers a thorough guide to help you relocate to Grand Cayman.

​Can’t make it all the way to the Cayman Islands? Me neither, but I love looking at it online. Or, hopping in my car and driving to the nearest beach or water view. My favorite is my lake in Tennessee. I hope you can reset too. All you need is a great view.

​                                                          3. Natural Spa Vacation in Mystic Hot Springs
If you want to combine the relaxing elements of nature with a spa retreat, Mystic Hot Springs in Utah has everything you need. It offers bathtubs in the middle of the natural hot springs that are open 24 hours and only cost $15 per adult. It's also easy to fall in love with the town of Monroe, Utah, where the hot springs are located. If you want to stay, it's a perfect place to live for those who love to hike and ski.

​We don’t have natural hot springs in Ohio, but I could find one in Indiana, Illinois, or Tennessee. If you’d like to try one, try this link: Hot Springs Locator (hotspringsofamerica.com)  If you have a family, I’d look for a great hotel like Great Wolf Lodge. Kids have told me about it for years. 

                                                                            4. Mountain Vacation in Denver
Mountain vacations offer a cozy environment for rest. If you love to ski or just want to sit by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and look at the mountains outside the window, Denver, Colorado, is the perfect place. The famous Rocky Mountains are right there in Denver's backyard. The Rockies offer year-round fun, and Denver has a vibrant art scene. If you consider moving there, you can find affordable apartments for rent in Denver CO. Scout homes and apartments for rent and filter for the number of rooms you need and the amenities you want. Don't waste your vacation taking in-person tours. Most rentals and realty companies offer 3D tours online. 

​If you can’t make it out to Colorado, try some mountains around you. I can find them in Ohio, up north in Michigan, and down south in Kentucky, West Virginia, and Tennessee. There’s something special about being in the mountains.

​                                                                           5. Animal Therapy in Tucson
Some of the best luxury hotels and spas offer a connection with animals. This very special kind of therapy is good for the soul. The Purple Sage Ranch at the Miraval Spa and Resort in Tucson, Arizona, offers equine experiences to help you unleash creativity and improve communication. If you need more sunshine in your life, consider relocating to Tucson. It's pretty warm in the summer, but the evenings and early mornings are perfectly brisk. It doesn't hurt to have a beautiful desert mountain view around you at all times, either. 

​​Tucson sounds wonderful! Who wouldn’t want to spend a week with horses? I might not be able to get out west, but there are animal opportunities all around us.
I’ll close by thanking Justin for all of these great suggestions! I hope they inspire you to find a way to have fun. To find time to take care of yourself, and your family.

​Justin’s Conclusions: Everyone has a different definition of what constitutes a relaxing getaway. Sometimes a getaway isn't enough, though. Self-care should be a year-round priority. Consider what you can do to make every day as much like a vacation as possible. 

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​Are there things you’re afraid of? Me, ABSOLUTELY! Some people say fear can be a good thing – that it signals danger. Warnings about them are good things, unless they make you freeze. I have three big fears, and sometimes I see them and freeze. I don’t take action when I should. Tonight – one of my biggest fears from the 1990’s and early 2000’s – getting lost.
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Part 1 – Get Lost! In the 1990’s and 2000’s this was my biggest fear – getting lost. It terrified me. I felt like I was lost in a maze, without a clue to my location. People told me where I was, but it meant nothing. It just increased my frustration . . . because I was still lost. 
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Sometimes maps help! Sometimes they don’t! Maps are great if you can find your location, then figure out where to go. But when you can’t . . . URGH!

                         Then I feel like the second maze . . .  frozen! I can’t move. Not one footstep.
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Sometime in the 2000’s that fear disappeared . . . Why? GPS . . . Also known as GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM. Oh My Gosh! It was a game changer!

My fear vanished! Even if I messed up, GPS would always take me to the right address until . . . 3 years ago. The unexpected happened. I had a rental car with no GPS. I had my phone – so I thought I was OK. NOT!

My phone went dead somewhere on the back roads of Tennessee. I was following I40 East to Knoxville when my GPS took me onto those back roads. Then it died. I recognized a few towns, but I couldn’t figure out for the life of me how to get to I75. I was in the middle of farm country. I even saw a moose laying down in a field. He was HUGE – even sitting down.
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I was literally 30-45 minutes away from the lake house, but I didn’t get there till 2 hours later. I tried all kinds of ways to get myself redirected. My solution . . . I stopped at a gas station for directions. It took 3 tries before I found someone who could tell me how to get to I75.

The good news . . . I finally got home, but the best news . . . I no longer fear getting lost. As long as I have my phone and my mouth, I can find my way home, even if I get lost in a German school . . . That really happened. I WAS SO scared! I didn’t even know how to say lost or help in German, but it all worked out. Some kind soul took me to the teacher in charge of the sister cities program. I was found! Facing your fears and surviving them is freeing!
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​Part 2 – Fear of Failure:  I didn’t worry about school failure until middle school. It was easy for me. I was an A/B student. My first C came in 7th grade on an English worksheet. I teared up. The kids around me wondered why I was upset . . . a  C was OK. By the time I got a C in high school physics (so hard), I was grateful!

​Sports, now that was a different ball game, and I was terrible at it! Girls started softball in 4th grade in the 60’s. I was horrible at bat, horrible in the field. I was afraid of failing everytime I tried to bat, every time I tried to catch a ball . . . there was a good reason the coach put me in left field. I only did baseball for 1 year. That was enough! Even now I just want to duck when something flies my way. Sports are not for me!
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​This could be me when I was in college. I had a couple classes where the professor commented on my first test, my first paper. They said I’d done a great job, and that they looked forward to the next one. OMG! The FEAR of FAILURE!  I never did as well on the next paper. Fear fueled the result. But once I got through it, would you believe I did better on the third, because I wasn’t worried? I could just be me and do the work.

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S​ometimes I look like this when I’m writing. I stare into space, at my computer, at the pictures on Pixabay. I’m trying to find the words I need to write about them, but I’m frozen. I can’t move forward, and I feel like a failure. Sometimes I can force the words to come. But sometimes I have to do the braver thing – stop. Then try again later. It’s not a failure – it’s me giving my brain a rest.

That’s what I did when I tried to write part 2 of this post. I kept trying to write. Then I kept changing the pictures around. Finally, I stopped! And tonight, it was easy-peasy!

What’s hard for me to write? Either a brand-new story, or something about my writing business. I’ve been writing since 2007. I have enough practice to know when to force my words, and when I need to stop for a brain break. That’s how I push away those ‘F’ words – Fear and Frustration.

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Part 3 – Fear of the Unknown:  This one has been with me as long as I can remember. New things . . . New places . . . New people . . . They’re all scary. Like crossing the road on a foggy day and hoping that you won’t get hit by a car.
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Have you ever scheduled a great vacation, but when it gets close, you just want to stay home? It’s easier, and you don’t have to worry about things going wrong, but, no risk – no gain. My dad was like that pre-trip, but he always went, and everything turned out fine.  I still get those feelings, but I force myself past them, like dad did. Usually things work out, but when they don’t, I learn something new, and that’s always a good thing!

​Do you ever feel anxious when you meet new people, like the first day of school? I did . . . I always hoped I’d see a friendly face across the room. It made everything easier! In junior high, kids and classes changed every hour. That didn’t stop until I finished college.

Did you know teachers feel as anxious as their students? The kids who come in the door affect the year we’ll have. Most kids are great. That’s why I taught for 33 years, and it’s why I still sub.

Did a blank page ever scare you as a kid? Sometimes teachers put questions around them. Filling them in with good ideas can be hard. I never worried about those blanks until college. That’s when an essay question almost sank my boat.

I knew the answer, but I couldn’t remember it. I went blank, totally! I didn’t know what to do, but the clock was ticking. I started writing. I rephrased the question, then kept going. I wrote around the answer, trying to put down everything I could think of, coherently. It worked! I answered the question, and I didn’t bomb the test! 
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Now that I’m a published author, I still start with the beginning and the end. They’ll change, but it’s a start. No blank page! I still use cause/effect, but I’ve learned to think in acts – three.

The main character will try to solve the problem all the way through, but things get worse each time. By Act 3 and that 3rd try, the main character is ready to quit. That’s when something changes, and the story comes to a close. It sounds easy, but it’s messy. It takes work, and multiple tries, multiple critiques. But when you get it right - success is sweet!
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Part 4 – Four Fears I Live Without:  First up . . . aging! I have never had a problem with decade birthdays like 30, 40, 50, even 60.

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​ I’m lucky . . . I’m named after my grandmother, Rinda. I knew she died young so I always felt grateful to live through each decade birthday. I never met my grandmother, but she made aging easy.
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I’m retired now, but I retired to a new career  . . . writing. I’m enjoying every minute of my 60’s. Here’s to what the 70’s will bring!
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Second, I’m a diabetic, type 2. YUCK! Diabetes is an awful disease that could take away my sight. It could hurt my heart. I never wanted to have it, but it’s been a part of me since the day I was born. I found out in my 50’s.

I’m lucky! I live in an age where diabetes can be controlled. Diet and exercise used to work, but it’s a hard disease to beat. You think it’s under control, and then it breaks free.
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Now I test myself each day. My numbers guide me on what to eat and what to skip. I also control them with medicine. I take two pills and a shot each day. They allow me to live and enjoy my life!
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​Third, I’m a daughter of Alzheimer’s. It took my dad away from me. First his brain, then the rest of him.
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I always look for silver linings. When dad had to go into a nursing home, I was his Peter Pan. When he saw things that weren’t there, I played along and believed him. Everyone needs to be believed.

I found another silver lining as the disease took over his body. It was hard to see him stop walking and talking, but dad didn’t know it was happening. I think it made it easier for him to leave this world behind. If dementia claims me, I’m glad there will be a few silver linings.

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And finally, death. Over the last 7 years my husband and I have said goodbye to our parents. It was hard, but as a Christian, I believe they’re in a better place, with the people they loved. Someday, I believe that will happen to me too.  
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Have you noticed that fears shrink when you face them, like the bullies they are? My best advice – face your fear. Then make a plan to beat it. Test-drive that plan. If it doesn’t work, then come up with a new one. Here’s to us, facing our fears!

Part 1 – What is Storystorm?  ​What were a lot of writers doing during January? Storystorm! If you’ve never heard of it, you’re in the right place tonight! Storystorm is the Brainchild of Tara Lazar. She’s a famous picture book author who writes funny books. Her blog name even cracks me up – Writing for Kids (While Raising Them).

I had an idea when my kids were young, and I never tried to write that story. Writing, raising and teaching kids was too hard for me, but now I have time. This is the third year I’ve done Storystorm so I have 90 ideas waiting in my computer for me. I also have lots of others that I collected pre-Storystorm.
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​So how does Storystorm work? First you have to sign up. It’s a great way to start writing, and to keep going. Sorry, it’s January . . . so you’ll have to wait until next year. During Storystorm, each day a different writer does a column with a theme for coming up with new ideas. Your job – to find that idea.

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​​Part 2 – Day 2 Ideas:  This year Tara didn’t lead off . . . She let Tammi Sauer have that honor. Tara took the 2nd day position. Her post was all about absurd words. So is her newest book! Isn’t absurd a lovely word?! My job – to find a word or two that might lead to a story.
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​ My 1st word - supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. I’ve loved it since Mary Poppins. Every year I used it on my 2nd graders when we started writing and spelling. The idea was to teach them to sound things out. Their mouths dropped open every year when I wrote it. Now – to figure out how to use it in a story.
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​ This is my second word. I’m wondering how I can use the homonyms steakout and stakeout. One is a real word. Detectives do stakeouts all the time. They do them to investigate their cases, to find out who did it. The other steak-out could be a lot of fun to play with. My job – to figure out how to use it in a story.

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Part 3 – Ideas from Day 10:   Katey Howe caught my attention – she wanted to plant seeds, but not the garden variety. She was talking about old ideas that never sprouted. The illustration below is a seed that bloomed . . .  BE A MAKER. Katey found a way to tell the story of people who make things – from chefs to writers to engineers. Makers! My job – to prepare a seed or two for planting. 
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My 1st old seed – green beans from 2nd grade. Would you believe they got me in trouble? I always thought I should write that story, but I never tried. Maybe, 2022 is the year to plant that seed!

My 2nd old seed – Neil Armstrong. I published a book about him and his wind tunnel dream in 2019, but there was another story. It tempted me to write it first, but I decided the wind tunnel was the stronger story. Now Neil’s seed is calling me, asking me to water it, to let it grow.
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Part 4 – Ideas from Day 21: I was so excited to see Valerie Boiling come up for Day 21. I know her! Well, a little. We talked via email when her first book was coming out, and I was thrilled to be one of her 1st readers and reviewers.
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Valerie’s advice – channel your inner child. Remember who you were back then . . . carefree, silly, and curious. My job – PLAY! Then find a few ideas! 

​​This should be easy for me . . . I’ve spent my whole life around kids, first as a student and then as a teacher. I still substitute so I can hang out in Munchkin land. I love the way they think! A third grader once asked if I’d written a dinosaur book. I hung my head, but I started picking out Dinos. Then I got stuck. Maybe those Dinos will find me this year!
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​I’m a principal’s daughter. I always thought there was a story there somewhere, but I never found my way in. Maybe if I channel my inner child or ask the right Munchkin, I’ll find that story!

November of 2021 is when I started reading for other reasons. I did it to help my writing. I was trying to find a way to revise my 2nd bat story. I saved it in my computer back in 2011, and now a decade later I pulled it out.  

I’m only sharing the books I picked as mentors, and I’m cutting out the parts that don’t apply to the bat story. Here’s the link if you’d like to read from those titles. Link: ​Rinda Beach - Blog - Rinda Beach
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Part 1 -  Me as a Reader, and a Writer – This is me, at a book event. I’m not just a reader anymore . . . I’m a writer. It changed the way I read, the way I write. Reading and writing are like opposite sides of the same coin. They work together.

I wrote my 2nd bat story ten years ago, and I haven’t touched it since. I pulled up the first chapter last week and revised it. It was easy . . . I’ve grown as a writer in the last ten years. My critique partners said I needed to push the characters, but I knew that. Ten years ago they were flat, and they still are. I was surprised that a couple people thought I should grow the story, a lot. I didn’t see the potential, last week.

This week I outlined my five chapters (I designed it as an easy chapter book) and sent it in . . . The response was universal! I need to grow this story . . . it’s way bigger than my original plot. I knew I needed to up the stakes and add complexity, but now I know . . . if I want this story to find its own depth, I need to let it grow. To become more than I can imagine now. WOW!
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After I finished my critique group, I didn’t know where to turn, where to find ideas. Then I remembered that books have always been my mentors so I found it. My next read is imaginative, creative, and a fantasy. It’s a great place to start rebuilding my story. I also thought I should look at fractured fairy tales, fantasies with princesses and witches. Maybe even bats and bugs. Here’s to my new voyage, and however long it takes! Here’s to the new series – The Enchanted Forest Chronicles. 

​Part 2 – The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, plus a few PSs: Most of my book posts are about my reaction to the book and the plot. The PSs are where I wrote my thoughts about revising my bat story.
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Book 1 - PPS – I’m three days in, and dragon magic is working! I moved the setting from Lienen to Tecklenburg. It has history and atmosphere, from the ruins of an old German castle to the Teutoberg Forest where Herman the German battled ancient Rome.

My story’s grandmother changed too. The bats called her a witch in the old version. Now I think making her into a real one, opens a world of possibilities. I also changed her granddaughter’s name from Hannah to Anna, because a real Countess Anna lived in Tecklenburg Castle. She didn’t want witches burned, and my grandma and her Anna won’t either.  Imagine what I can do with that angle!
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Finally, I did some research and picked out one kind of bat. I also discovered that all bats need help. Did you know they’re in danger worldwide because of wind farms? In Germany too! I read that if they turned the fans off when bats are out, it would save their lives! AND we’d only lose 1% of the power wind farms produce. WOW! Who knew this book could get my juices going and fill my head with ideas? WAHOO! 
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Book 2 - PS – I decided to rewrite/revise my bat story with the original five chapters. I need to explore it first before I look for ways to grow it. I believe in story magic, and I’m willing to let it take me wherever my story is meant to go.


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Book 3 – Time for the December Book Link: Rinda Beach - Blog - Rinda Beach

​PS – I just finished the first two chapters of my bat book. The witch’s part is the most fun to write. It all started with a throwaway line in the 2011 version. A bat thought that the grandmother was a witch. Originally I said she was a nice old lady, but this time I decided to play with it. I’m having so much fun that I can’t wait to see where that witch takes me!
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​Book 4 - PS – My critique partners said the 1st two chapters are heading the right way. Their biggest piece of advice – GROW THAT PLOT! I’m working on it, but I’ll finish the last three chapters of the almost original story first.
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Then . . .  I’m moving the story across the ocean to my lake in Tennessee. That’s the setting where I’ll work to imagine the fantasy, I believe it can be.
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Part 3 – A Witch, Three Queens, and a Sorcerer – Follow me through the next 5 books. As I read each one, I left myself notes about where the bat story should go. 
December Book Link: Rinda Beach - Blog - Rinda Beach
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William - PS – I picked this story because I need to reimagine my bat story. It’s keeping me in the middle grade range, but I haven’t found the perfect path to stretch it out. I think the witch character is the right way to go, but I think I need to look into some bat lore to help me push my story farther. Here’s to my new quest!


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​Three Queens – I wrote this when I started reading the Hundredth Queen,
​and it’s what I noticed through the whole series . . . 

Harry Potter, My Writing Mentor - I’m still reading the Hundredth Queen series to look at world building, but my mentor suggested I look at Harry Potter for my bat book. Why? She thinks the tone and complexity are what my story needs. I’ve worked with her since 2018, and I trust her advice.

Harry Potter – that sounded so intimidating until I wrapped my head around it. I don’t have to write 800 pages or sound like J.K. I’ll write my story, and I’ll follow Harry’s footprints. Not exactly, but in a way that fits my bats and 2 humans.

Reading Harry as a mentor text is different than reading it for fun. It’s like taking a road trip. You read as fast as you can and enjoy the scenery. But now that Harry’s my teacher, I read a chapter at a time, then take notes. I’m looking at how Jo put the story together, and the elements I want to remember. I just finished chapter 3. Here’s a peek at my notes.

Chapter 1 is all about setting the stage – introducing the setting and characters. Jo doesn’t show the inciting incident between Harry and Voldemort. We’re told about it through the fallout. Chapters 2 and 3 focus on one incident per chapter. Chapter 2 takes place 10 years later, and Jo uses a birthday to show how Harry’s treated in the family. Chapter 3 focuses on a letter, and all of Mr. Dursley’s attempts to keep Harry from reading it.

PS – I got stuck on Chapter 4. Harry’s a great mentor text, but he’s not helping me picture my story.
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Part 4 – One Last Queen and a Spindle  - They’re the last two books in my journey, so far.
January Book Link: Rinda Beach - Blog - Rinda Beach
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The Last Queen - I wrote this after I finished The Warrior Queen. It tells you the direction I thought I needed to go with the bat story. The interesting part – I’d forgotten I wrote it . . .  
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I pick my books by author, and I’ll take a look at Emily’s, along with my other favorite authors. It’ll be a while. I have book 1 of Harry Potter to read. Then I’ll skip to another magical book, and it takes place in the Smokies. I have the where for the story, but I need to figure out a problem for my bats to solve. I’m hoping Story Magic will point me down the right path. Fingers crossed!
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 Spindled – This is the first thing I wrote about it . . .

Shanna Swendson is one of my favorite authors, and that’s why I picked this book. I’m rereading it to uncover details I missed the 1st time through.

 - And this is how it’s helping me with my bats . . .  

​This book was written for kids aged 11-18. That’s the range I want to hit with my bat story, so this is another good mentor book for me. I’m also happy to announce – there will be a sequel. Dawn’s parents, the true king and queen, are hiding somewhere in east Texas. I can’t wait to read it!
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​Part 5 – What I’m Reading and Writing Now – I’ve never posted this before. It’s new material that I put together, just for this post.
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​Writing Now - This week I finished revising the last chapter of my Almost True Bat Story. Next week I’ll hear what my critique partners think about it.

The old version’s pretty much what happened to me in 2007 when I held a bat on a mop in Germany . . . Really! What’s interesting is that this new version is still flat, and that’s the same comment an editor told me in 2011 . . . so I mothballed it, until now.

This weekend I’m going back to Chapter 1 for another round of editing, and I’m changing just ONE THING in the story. I’m moving it from Germany to the US . . . to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
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But I decided to change something else– the characters. I’m aging the girl. In the original she was 5-7 years old. Now she’ll be 11-13. That will turn it into a middle grade novel. I’m also making the grandmother a real witch. It was a throw-away line in the original chapter book, but now I’m ready to play with it in the new and improved story. And the bats, they’ll become American of course.
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My Word Power posters started back in 2018. That’s the 1st year I started doing the Twelve Days of Christmas class with Julie Hedlund from 12x12 fame. I joined 12x12 in January of 2019. This is my 4th year with both programs. I have learned so much about me as a writer, and as a person since then. I’m grateful to Julie, and to her programs.

​                                                                                Part 1 – Word Power Past:

These screenshots came from Pinterest. They’re like class yearbooks from The Twelve Days of Christmas program.

If you’d like to take a look at Julie’s class, click on the link for 2018. It will show you day by day, how to look back at last year, and how to look ahead to the new one. Give it a little twist, and it can work for you and your job. The other 2 links are for the classes I took in 2019 and 2020. The goals are for the new year.
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                     Class 2018 – http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/the-twelve-days-of-the-new-year
                     Class 2019 – http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/january-20th-2020    (2020 goals)
       Class 2020 – http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/use-your-word-power-rinda-beach    (2021 goals)

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                          This is a screenshot of this year’s Word Power, 2022. 

​                                                          Part 2 – Keep Us Going: 
When I put my first poster together, I had 3 things to keep going. They’re still here at the top of my poster, and they’re still the foundation for my writing.

​The 12 x 12 Writers Group – It’s where I go for writing classes, where I can search for things from agents to mentor books, and where I can find people like me. I’ve been a member since 2018,

​Marketing – This is how I build my brand, to introduce myself to people like you. It’s the reason I started rindabeach.com. I’ve written over 380 posts and 280 book reviews so far, and I’m still writing both each week. You can find them on Pinterest, or you can email and ask for content. I love to write! I love to answer questions!

I started doing videos of my blog posts so that you can meet me onscreen. I’m up to 32 this week. You can find them on (3) Rinda Beach | Facebook, or you can email and ask me. I love finding content for you!

The Agent Challenge – It’s finished! Now I’m waiting for the answer. I’ll either sign on the dotted line, or I’ll keep looking for that agent. I didn’t realize till last week, that the answer I get will determine the kind of writing I’ll do.

With an agent, I’ll need to focus on national stories with a wide appeal. I’ll probably leave self-publishing behind. Without one, I’ll look for niche markets and regional stories that I can self-publish. Whichever way this goes, I’ll keep writing. I’ve become a writer over the last 14 years, and that’s what I need to do . . . for me . . . and for readers too.
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Part 3 – What’s New in 2022?  – 
​Growing these ideas into picture, chapter, or middle grade stories.

1. The Bat Idea – In 2011 it was an easy chapter book, 5 chapters long. I pulled it out in 2021, updated the first 4 chapters, and now I’m revising #5. The next step – to pivot and turn it into a middle grade novel.

2. The Baby Idea – I did a picture book version last year, and in 2020, but something’s missing. I have a few ideas I want to try out on paper, and with my critique partners.

3. The Frog Idea – I have a picture book/ chapter book version of this idea. The one I return to depends on the agent’s answer. If it’s a yes, it’s the picture book. If it’s a no, I’ll pull the chapter book up again and work to self-publish it.
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If I get stuck in those ideas, there are others sitting in my computer, waiting to be developed. ​

4. Ideas to Try – Could a private Facebook group or an account with Teachers Pay Teachers help both of us? Here’s to finding that answer in 2022!