Tag Archives: what’s app

My Writing Goals For 2025

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My Writing Goals For 2025

It’s almost the end of December and that means 2024 is almost over. It’s time to set some goals for next year. I don’t do resolutions. I do goals. They’re more meaningful to me and I’m more likely to strive to achieve them.

First and foremost are my writing goals. When I’m here in Mexico, I have more time to write. More importantly I have more time to write without interruption. This means I sometimes boot up my laptop at midnight and write for a few hours. Breakfast can sometimes be at two in the afternoon or later. My time is my own.

I’ll start with the novel I’m writing. It’s actually turning into a trilogy. While there is some fine tuning I still have to do on all three parts, I’m into the homestretch now. My goal is to have this ready for publishing in the spring when I return up north. Then I need to decide which country to publish it in. My first two books were published in the USA but now I’m leaning towards having the next one published in Canada.

WordPress is presenting its annual bloganuary again this year. I’m going to attempt it. This means a writing prompt a day for thirty-one days. I won’t post all of them to my blog, but I do intend to post a few of the more interesting ones. Sometimes these writing prompts can be quite bizarre.

Another goal I have is to write in Spanish. Until now I have primarily been writing in English. My writing in Spanish tends to be on What’s App, Facebook and texts. While my main focus in Spanish has always been in speaking, I want to do some writing to improve my grammar rather than merely the exercises on Duolingo.

And when I’m not writing, I still have all those pics I scanned last summer that need to be organized………….

So What?!

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Monday, Monday. Facebook down. What’s App not working. Didn’t bother checking Instagram.

It certainly made for a quieter day. No constant pings and dings of notifications on my phone. I actually spent very little time on my phone.

Here in Mexico What’s App is a lifeline to many. I’ve met a lot of people who just put 50 pesos at a time on their phone. They don’t have a phone plan like I do.

For 200 pesos a month, less than $10 US, I have unlimited talking and texting as well as long distance to the USA and Canada. Some data is included ans all social media is also free.

Without a phone plan, What’s App that runs off WiFi is free, so that is a very popular option for those who do not have a plan.

Therefore a lot of people were impacted when everything went down on Monday. Their pesos on their phones would not stretch quite as far.

I find it interesting that phone plans here are so reasonably priced. In the USA a similar plan with AT&T costs me $40. Canada was even more expensive the last time I was there.

While buying cell phones is far more expensive in Mexico, using them is definitely much more affordable here.

My New Virtual World

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My New Virtual World

Social distancing. Physical distancing. Self-isolating. Self-quarantine. Common buzz words we all live with today.

I’m a people person. I like to be with people. I like to do things with people. I like to go places with people. I like to wander in and out of shops conversing with the locals.

Here I am in Mexico in the mist of this COVID-19 madness where I spend most of the time by myself. And my virtual world has become more important lately.

I confess I spend much less time on Facebook. Too much negativity and misinformation. However I do share my blog posts every other day. And I respond to private messages. But when I want the facts about the virus I check the Mayo Clinic website. I also participate in discussion groups on this site too.

On Sundays I no longer go to church. Instead I tune in online to Church of the Rock in Winnipeg.

And new this past week…. Pastor Kent of Leavenworth Church of the Nazarene is offering an online Bible study on Wednesdays. And I have partnered with my friend Becky in Indiana to further discuss what is presented each week.

And then there is What’s App, Instagram and Twitter. But I refuse to Zoom.

I do try to limit my time in this virtual world. I have my writing, coloring and daily walks to occupy my time. I also spend much more time on the phone with friends. I was even interviewed by a Winnipeg Free Press journalist on the phone a couple of weeks back.

But I miss the in-person contact. I wonder how much longer I will have to just be content with only my virtual world.