In the spirit of Father's Day, I shall dedicate this to my dad! In the great realm of things, I must say I (along with 5 other siblings) was quite blessed having two of the best parents anyone could have. As a young girl, I knew my dad to be a very loving, caring, devoted and strong man. He worked for the telephone company all of his life. He climbed telephone poles in those days. He stayed quite fit. He was also in the Army; a Sergeant Major in rank. Paratrooper, Green Beret, Special Forces. Needless to say, he was the one to dole out discipline when needed. If my mother uttered the words, "Wait till your dad gets home," we knew we were in big trouble. I'm sure many of you have heard those words---that was back in the day where a good ass whoopin did not involve 1-800-child-abuse. I wasn't so much on the receiving end of the paddle, but I had my fair share of spanks.
No matter what, every couple of years, the six of us, mom & dad and two selected cousins hit the road for a two week vacation. Trust me when I say we were no where near rich. We drank powdered milk just like most in those days but together they managed to save enough money to take us on a traveling frenzie; sometimes east, sometimes west. At the time, we had a station wagon jam packed with kids, luggage, tent and camping gear strapped on top. They called it an adventure; we called it boring---then. Now, I relish and hold on to the memory of each one of those trips. Some memories as a young girl, some as a teenager (my personal favorite--Grand Canyon) I still hold dear to my heart. I didn't know then how those times would impact my life as an adult. What kid does? I could really tell ya some stories from some of those trips. I'll save that for another time.
My dad has literally been a great force in the person I am today. His strength has given me strength, his love and devotion has given me a huge heart to which I can only hope to pass on the my girls. I take a few things away from my mother who's love and dedication was to her children and other family. (Which is why the cousins were always included on several trips.) I know I get that from her!
My mother was with us until 2003 then passed away peacefully after fighting cancer for five years. I was fortunate enough to be there for her during her last month on this earth and what pained me more then letting her go was watching my dad let her go. It was excruciating to see the love of his life leave him. He sat, everyday, dedicated. Vigilant. Worn and exhausted. Drained and hopeless. Lost and alone was what he would say. To which I would remind him that he still had the six of us. Nothing could describe what he must have been feeling. I would lose my mother any day and feared my dad would follow her.
Thankfully, I still have my dad! We did make it through one of the toughest times any of us could have imagined. Today, I can write about this... then I couldn't even fathom it. My dad has found peace in knowing that he is doing exactly what my mother would have wanted. They always planned on traveling after we had all grown---married---and left the house. They did for a short time before mom became ill. To this day, this eighty year old strong willed, strong minded and stubborn man still travels. "It's what mom would want me to do," he tells us. "I take her with me everywhere I go."
I couldn't have been more blessed to have you as my dad and only hope that I have met your expectations as much as you have met mine. I love you Daddy!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Drama Continues!
So it has been a couple of weeks since I have been able to post and right now I am using the kiddies computer. My computer has taken a total nose dive! Like really crash and burn, leaving me with fingers aching to hit the keyboard. One lesson I have taken from my tragic computer failure is no matter how much you love the little ones, never-ever... allow them full usage of the computer.
The story goes: Nick Jr. is a great site to keep the grand babies entertained, but don't leave them alone. Not for a second! They can be quite sneaky when your head is turned. Things were going great. Family get-together, swimming, playing Wii games, kiddies on computer; great fun right!? Next thing I know, I see my computer shut off. I look over to see youngest has pressed the button---because it told her to! LOL--I can do that now. Then, I walked over and hit the button to reboot the computer. What do I get---a blank screen---then safe mode option (which I thought strange, but selected open normally)--then back to safe mode screen again.
This continued for quite a while until I gave up and sent everyone away from the computer area. The next morning, I checked again. I got a repeat of the same formats! Uuuuugggghhh!! I decide to go to Office Depot and inquire what I need to do to which the guy in the computer department informed me that my computer was fried. (Yes, he used those exact words) "It's dead," he says, "you probably bought a cheap computer."
Now I'm pissed! "A cheap computer? Is that what you sell here? Cause this is where I bought it!" I was literally ready to clock the guy on the side of the head with the two books I had just purchased next door at Books A Million! "Don't y'all have anyone that can at least check it out for me?" "No," he says, "best thing for you to do is buy a new one." To which I reply, "I won't be buying anything from this store again. You can count on that one." Needless to say, I stormed out! Came home, cried for an hour over my anxiousness---having just completed my YA Fantasy Novel and Query ready to send out---I did not think to back it up!! I was sick to my stomach! Called the Geek Squad from Best Buy and the guy there said---the idiot from Office Depot didn't know what he was talking about and they could recover everything for a mere $100.00.
Well, with a family member being a geek himself, I called him. It has been two weeks and we have tried everything we could possibly do and still nothing. I'm in a dead panic but I'm holding out hope for one more thing he has up his sleeve and still believes we can recover everything. Until then I am in limbo!! I hope to continue to post on the girls computer so hang in with me!! Wish me luck!! See ya soon!
The story goes: Nick Jr. is a great site to keep the grand babies entertained, but don't leave them alone. Not for a second! They can be quite sneaky when your head is turned. Things were going great. Family get-together, swimming, playing Wii games, kiddies on computer; great fun right!? Next thing I know, I see my computer shut off. I look over to see youngest has pressed the button---because it told her to! LOL--I can do that now. Then, I walked over and hit the button to reboot the computer. What do I get---a blank screen---then safe mode option (which I thought strange, but selected open normally)--then back to safe mode screen again.
This continued for quite a while until I gave up and sent everyone away from the computer area. The next morning, I checked again. I got a repeat of the same formats! Uuuuugggghhh!! I decide to go to Office Depot and inquire what I need to do to which the guy in the computer department informed me that my computer was fried. (Yes, he used those exact words) "It's dead," he says, "you probably bought a cheap computer."
Now I'm pissed! "A cheap computer? Is that what you sell here? Cause this is where I bought it!" I was literally ready to clock the guy on the side of the head with the two books I had just purchased next door at Books A Million! "Don't y'all have anyone that can at least check it out for me?" "No," he says, "best thing for you to do is buy a new one." To which I reply, "I won't be buying anything from this store again. You can count on that one." Needless to say, I stormed out! Came home, cried for an hour over my anxiousness---having just completed my YA Fantasy Novel and Query ready to send out---I did not think to back it up!! I was sick to my stomach! Called the Geek Squad from Best Buy and the guy there said---the idiot from Office Depot didn't know what he was talking about and they could recover everything for a mere $100.00.
Well, with a family member being a geek himself, I called him. It has been two weeks and we have tried everything we could possibly do and still nothing. I'm in a dead panic but I'm holding out hope for one more thing he has up his sleeve and still believes we can recover everything. Until then I am in limbo!! I hope to continue to post on the girls computer so hang in with me!! Wish me luck!! See ya soon!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Writer Moment
I know that I have said that this blog would be a bit different from other writer's blogs but I've decided a once a month writer's moment can't hurt. So this blog is dedicated to my unending battle with my query. I belong to the great and wonderful family of writers who help other writers work to be the best they can be. That would be the Absolute Write family. Better known as AW'ers!
I have to say that back in November 2010, I discovered a website holding a contest for first time YA novel writers. (Yay--that's me) Unpublished (Uh, yay?--that's me too) Deadline December 31st (Whoa--I just started this novel in Nov. Can I pull this off?--Yeah, go for it!) So every day and every night for nearly thirty days I pounded the keyboard. I must admit, it wasn't as clean as I would have liked it to be but complete nonetheless! I got my novel in before the contest deadline. (Go me!) Unfortunately, my novel was not the selected winner but at that point that was not what mattered to me. I had finished a YA novel! With the extra time now, I can clean up things and bring it to a point where I was ready for submissions.
With the help of some of the most awesomeness of AW'ers as Beta Readers, I have perfected what I am comfortable with submitting! On to writing the query. Uuuggghhh---that means hell on AW. QLH (Query Letter Hell) has been both a blessing and a pulling my hair out experience. It has taken me quite a while to really get my query to a happy point.
When they say hell they mean just that. I started with what I thought was a pretty darn good query and was set back with some of the responses. All of them very helpful but all of them completely different. Which one do you go with? So, I returned to the drawing board and went for it again. Again, helpful suggestions and again very different suggestions. This went on for quite a while, and actually, if I posted another query, I know for sure I would get the same results. Please don't get me wrong--I love everyone there who at least takes the time to stop by and read and suggest. My point is that everyone has a completely different opinion on the who, what, when, where, how and why. It is ultimately up to you--the writer--to figure out what works and what doesn't. I enlisted the help of a few people who followed every query I posted for an extra assist and to them I am truly grateful!
So now, with query in hand... well on file... I embark on my next step. Wish me luck and maybe by next month's Writer Moment, I will be able to share some awesome news! See Ya Soon
I have to say that back in November 2010, I discovered a website holding a contest for first time YA novel writers. (Yay--that's me) Unpublished (Uh, yay?--that's me too) Deadline December 31st (Whoa--I just started this novel in Nov. Can I pull this off?--Yeah, go for it!) So every day and every night for nearly thirty days I pounded the keyboard. I must admit, it wasn't as clean as I would have liked it to be but complete nonetheless! I got my novel in before the contest deadline. (Go me!) Unfortunately, my novel was not the selected winner but at that point that was not what mattered to me. I had finished a YA novel! With the extra time now, I can clean up things and bring it to a point where I was ready for submissions.
With the help of some of the most awesomeness of AW'ers as Beta Readers, I have perfected what I am comfortable with submitting! On to writing the query. Uuuggghhh---that means hell on AW. QLH (Query Letter Hell) has been both a blessing and a pulling my hair out experience. It has taken me quite a while to really get my query to a happy point.
When they say hell they mean just that. I started with what I thought was a pretty darn good query and was set back with some of the responses. All of them very helpful but all of them completely different. Which one do you go with? So, I returned to the drawing board and went for it again. Again, helpful suggestions and again very different suggestions. This went on for quite a while, and actually, if I posted another query, I know for sure I would get the same results. Please don't get me wrong--I love everyone there who at least takes the time to stop by and read and suggest. My point is that everyone has a completely different opinion on the who, what, when, where, how and why. It is ultimately up to you--the writer--to figure out what works and what doesn't. I enlisted the help of a few people who followed every query I posted for an extra assist and to them I am truly grateful!
So now, with query in hand... well on file... I embark on my next step. Wish me luck and maybe by next month's Writer Moment, I will be able to share some awesome news! See Ya Soon
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Not Just Me!!
Okay--so maybe it wasn't just me! The blog that I thought had disappeared into cyber-space has now reappeared! I understand that it wasn't me at all---it was the blog site! LMAO! Maybe I am perfectly sane then! :)
Now you can enjoy all three! See ya soon!
Now you can enjoy all three! See ya soon!
Friday, May 13, 2011
That's Just Me!
Yes, you will learn that I have CRS! It's not contagious nor is it something that will affect my health, but damn, it does tick me off sometimes.
I totally had a great post that I wrote on Tuesday--all about my Mother's Day fun. You'll have to take my word for it--it was funny! It involved D's #1 & 2 and had a moral to the story and everything! To my shock, I signed onto my blog today and found it not there! WTH! Damn--it was really good. Some of you who know me, know that my brain plays games with me. I will think I hit the send button on the computer and accidentally hit delete! I have become infamous for doing these silly things. So, my guess is that it has carried over to my blog.
I hit the preview button to make sure what I had typed was error free. I then should have entered the publish post button----obviously, that's not what I did. I really wish you could have read that one! I won't lie, it really was a good one! I had to laugh at myself as I was writing it! :) I wish I could remember the entire story so that I could repost, but alas---CRS!
For now, this one will have to do. I apologize for the loss of such a great story, but be assured, there will be more to come! Oh, yeah---for those of you who have never had or experienced CRS---then you're too young to be affected. For the rest of us---CRS---Can't Remember Shit!! See ya soon!
I totally had a great post that I wrote on Tuesday--all about my Mother's Day fun. You'll have to take my word for it--it was funny! It involved D's #1 & 2 and had a moral to the story and everything! To my shock, I signed onto my blog today and found it not there! WTH! Damn--it was really good. Some of you who know me, know that my brain plays games with me. I will think I hit the send button on the computer and accidentally hit delete! I have become infamous for doing these silly things. So, my guess is that it has carried over to my blog.
I hit the preview button to make sure what I had typed was error free. I then should have entered the publish post button----obviously, that's not what I did. I really wish you could have read that one! I won't lie, it really was a good one! I had to laugh at myself as I was writing it! :) I wish I could remember the entire story so that I could repost, but alas---CRS!
For now, this one will have to do. I apologize for the loss of such a great story, but be assured, there will be more to come! Oh, yeah---for those of you who have never had or experienced CRS---then you're too young to be affected. For the rest of us---CRS---Can't Remember Shit!! See ya soon!
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Weekend Fun
I honestly have to say that I had a great Mother's Day! Daughter #2 has recently moved into her own home and decided to have a get-together to celebrate Mother's Day. I believe it was the first time in... well, I won't say how many years, but alot will do, that I did not have a function at my home. Typically, go figure, all the girls with kiddies and hubbie in tow would come to my house for a BBQ. I was pleasantly surprised when Daughter #2 asked me if I wouldn't mind if she did the BBQ this year! YAY! A real Mother's Day where I wasn't the one doing all of the work. It turned out that she did a crawfish boil instead but hey, all I had to do was go and enjoy!
Now, I've told y'all before that there is always drama in my home. When I say my home, I don't literally mean in my house. I mean within my family, more specifically with my girls. Enter Drama! Daughter #1 decides that she also wants to have a get together at her place. No problem. Go early to #2's place, eat crawfish, spend some time with grandbugs then head over to #1's place. NOT. You see, I know #1 too well. I have to watch the clock while I am at #2's place to see just how long I've stayed there so that I can spend the equal amount of time at #1's. D#1 called while I was by D#2's to make sure I was still coming. Of course I am. I will be there in about an hour. Thank goodness they live near each other and I didn't have to go far to get to her place.
So I spend two hours, tops--I swear, at D#2's, say our good-byes, pack up D#3, 4, & 5 and head to D#1's. Having just eaten crawfish, I figured just spending time with other grandbugs would be fun. When we arrive there, she has BBQ'd chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs sitting on the table ready to eat. I told her that maybe D#4 would eat (she's not partial to crawfish) but the rest of us were fine. She asked if I wanted to take some home, to which of course I accepted. We were there for a little over an hour and I could see D#4 & D#5 were wearing down. With school the next day, I told them to get ready we would go ahead and go. D#1 was not going to let that happen! "You stayed longer by D#2's than you did here---why do you want to leave?"
It was the aha moment!! There it is! The point where you know that you know your kids a little too well. Something told me that was coming. Then she broke out temptation. A weakness I have. Filet! Hot off the pit. Seems she knows me as well as I know her. D4 & 5 and I dove into the steak like we hadn't had a thing all day to eat. Needless to say I wound up spending my two hours with D#1 and family anyway!
My moral of this story? Shit on this shit!! Next year, I'm having Mother's Day at my house!! See ya soon!
Now, I've told y'all before that there is always drama in my home. When I say my home, I don't literally mean in my house. I mean within my family, more specifically with my girls. Enter Drama! Daughter #1 decides that she also wants to have a get together at her place. No problem. Go early to #2's place, eat crawfish, spend some time with grandbugs then head over to #1's place. NOT. You see, I know #1 too well. I have to watch the clock while I am at #2's place to see just how long I've stayed there so that I can spend the equal amount of time at #1's. D#1 called while I was by D#2's to make sure I was still coming. Of course I am. I will be there in about an hour. Thank goodness they live near each other and I didn't have to go far to get to her place.
So I spend two hours, tops--I swear, at D#2's, say our good-byes, pack up D#3, 4, & 5 and head to D#1's. Having just eaten crawfish, I figured just spending time with other grandbugs would be fun. When we arrive there, she has BBQ'd chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs sitting on the table ready to eat. I told her that maybe D#4 would eat (she's not partial to crawfish) but the rest of us were fine. She asked if I wanted to take some home, to which of course I accepted. We were there for a little over an hour and I could see D#4 & D#5 were wearing down. With school the next day, I told them to get ready we would go ahead and go. D#1 was not going to let that happen! "You stayed longer by D#2's than you did here---why do you want to leave?"
It was the aha moment!! There it is! The point where you know that you know your kids a little too well. Something told me that was coming. Then she broke out temptation. A weakness I have. Filet! Hot off the pit. Seems she knows me as well as I know her. D4 & 5 and I dove into the steak like we hadn't had a thing all day to eat. Needless to say I wound up spending my two hours with D#1 and family anyway!
My moral of this story? Shit on this shit!! Next year, I'm having Mother's Day at my house!! See ya soon!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Proud Mama
So last night at the girls school they held what they call a Highlights Night! It's purpose is to show parents, friends and everyone else who attends the things your child has learned all year. It is set up throughout the school in every hallway, some things are held in the classroom.
We rush to get there for 6:00pm because daughter #5 is dancing in the gym. It was a Social Studies rap song that a group of 140 kids put together about Paul Revere! Naturally, daughter #5 had said she and just a couple of her friends were the only ones who could really do this particular dance and to my surprise, she was right. You have to picture 140 students trying to move and sing at the same time, all together, in unison...you get my point. She did great! She is definitely my goofy child!! She brings a smile to everyone's face and will have you in stitches with her silliness.
Daughter #4 had met up with some friends and was pretty much on her own until it was time for her art showing. Daughter #5 now has to make a mad dash to her French class where she is serving French pastries. The class was decorated to look like a French cafe--desks pulled together and covered with table cloths, a small vase of flowers for the extra touch and the kids with their French berets! Too cool. And the pastries... nummmmy!! After her time in French class daughter #5 volunteered to sell the Highlight book which has poetry, artwork and other writings from students. Future authors!! Be on the lookout!!
I meet up with both girls for a little dinner. Hot dogs (chili, cheese), Nacho's (chili, cheese) drinks and chips but hey, it hit the spot. We move on to the library where a silent auction was being held but I wasn't there for that. Daughter #4 had her artwork displayed on the other side of the library. I was completely shocked when I saw her work. I have told y'all that she is being tested for talented art...hmmm...next week. The work that we submitted for her came from last year's portfolio.
She has always had a talented hand with art (and I can tell ya--she doesn't get it from me!) but this was beyond what I thought I was going to see. Her detail, the colors and the scenes were amazing. Not that everyone's work was not great, it's just that you can tell when someone's work goes beyond great. I would point out others and say, 'oh, this one is good!' and she would reply, 'yeah, she's in talented art.' Daughter #4's work was damn near, if not better than kids who are already in the talented art program!
All in all, it was a great night and the girls and I had a great time. I'm always proud of my girls no matter how silly or spectacular they do with their interests, I let them know! I am one proud mama! See Ya Soon
We rush to get there for 6:00pm because daughter #5 is dancing in the gym. It was a Social Studies rap song that a group of 140 kids put together about Paul Revere! Naturally, daughter #5 had said she and just a couple of her friends were the only ones who could really do this particular dance and to my surprise, she was right. You have to picture 140 students trying to move and sing at the same time, all together, in unison...you get my point. She did great! She is definitely my goofy child!! She brings a smile to everyone's face and will have you in stitches with her silliness.
Daughter #4 had met up with some friends and was pretty much on her own until it was time for her art showing. Daughter #5 now has to make a mad dash to her French class where she is serving French pastries. The class was decorated to look like a French cafe--desks pulled together and covered with table cloths, a small vase of flowers for the extra touch and the kids with their French berets! Too cool. And the pastries... nummmmy!! After her time in French class daughter #5 volunteered to sell the Highlight book which has poetry, artwork and other writings from students. Future authors!! Be on the lookout!!
I meet up with both girls for a little dinner. Hot dogs (chili, cheese), Nacho's (chili, cheese) drinks and chips but hey, it hit the spot. We move on to the library where a silent auction was being held but I wasn't there for that. Daughter #4 had her artwork displayed on the other side of the library. I was completely shocked when I saw her work. I have told y'all that she is being tested for talented art...hmmm...next week. The work that we submitted for her came from last year's portfolio.
She has always had a talented hand with art (and I can tell ya--she doesn't get it from me!) but this was beyond what I thought I was going to see. Her detail, the colors and the scenes were amazing. Not that everyone's work was not great, it's just that you can tell when someone's work goes beyond great. I would point out others and say, 'oh, this one is good!' and she would reply, 'yeah, she's in talented art.' Daughter #4's work was damn near, if not better than kids who are already in the talented art program!
All in all, it was a great night and the girls and I had a great time. I'm always proud of my girls no matter how silly or spectacular they do with their interests, I let them know! I am one proud mama! See Ya Soon
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