So my last post, dreary as it may have been, was just my way of venting. I have said up front, my blogging is going to be more geared to my life and all that goes with it so if I bored you with that one, I apologize. NOT!!! We all have the need to vent every now and again... I'm glad some of you were here to listen (or read.) Things have gotten somewhat better and there may be light at the end of this dark tunnel. If I could get ahold of my flashlight it might be better but as luck has it, my batteries are dead!
Happier and much calmer days are ahead. This is the end of November and while I didn't fully commit myself to NaNo, I did start a new YA Novel. I find myself becoming a writer about death!! Some of you are familiar with my first YA Novel--Death & the Dreamers. I am sending queries for that one now. My new one also involves death, but in a different way. I haven't quite decided on a title yet but I'm leaning towards Dimensions. Is this a weird fixation I have or what!!?? Come to think of it... the YR stories that I have completed also involve death. Those stories however are meant to help children deal with the loss of a loved one---so yeah, quite different. (Still---death)
There's more good news for D#4 and her Color Guard team. The entire team (band & guard) took 2nd place or what they call Grand Champions for placing 2nd three years running. They are continually beat out by the Lafayette team and we continually hear--y'all should have taken 1st!! The comments following the video speak for themselves. Other statewide band members gave them rave reviews. If you have 10 minutes to spare you should watch. http://youtu.be/yIdMwxWhmw0 They really are a talented bunch of kids and I hate to brag but I will. Myself and another mom were single handly responsible for the flags the girls used. That's 21 girls, three different flags--the purple ones were X2. That's a grand total of 84 flags we made in a month's time. WHEW!!! It was a huge task to take on---but very well worth it to see them on the field!
Next up is the Winter Guard season and that means new flags, costumes, dancing and more competitions!! Me thinks I'm gonna wear down before she does. I couldn't be more proud of her and already D#5 is wanting to join next year. I may be getting myself in way over my head---what mom wouldn't want to be a part of their child's life in this way?? I definitely count my blessings!!!
See ya soon!!
Honey
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
On The Down Side
As you may have noticed, it has been quite some time since I've last been here. Unfortunately, I have been going through some rough patches. (Yes, more than one!!) It all started with my computer crashing a few months ago and my panic state of mind to find and replace all of my files---pics & novel (holy shit) being most important to me. In my defense, I was steadily working on rewrites and edits and had just completed them and was ready to use my flash sticky thingy when my world came crumbling down. Now, having recovered my entire story (Thank God) I am on the move again.
During all of that time, I was able to dedicate myself to D#4's Color Guard team. I became the new mom to the girls and I have loved every second!! I'm the mom out on the field during practices supplying them with water, snacks and stuffs. I'm not alone, of course. There are 150 band and color guard students to take care of, so it takes two of us to handle them. We have had 2 competitions so far and have had placed in both but the showcase is this weekend and it is the one where we really want to take the top prize!!
In the midst of all of this, I have to begin packing my house. Yes, foreclosure is at my doorstep. It seems to be taking over the country right now and I have been awaiting my turn for a while. I have ended my marriage of thirteen years but I'm in a very good place with that. It may have well ended the life the girls and I have come accustomed to, but in my heart, I know I have done the right thing. We may have to leave what they have come to love behind (because he does not believe he should pay for where he does not live anymore)-- but I think through it all they are handling things quite well. In the end, it will be him that suffers...the girls are smarter than he thinks.
My next step is to hopefully find a stay at home job (hard find--I know) before we lose everything. Bad thing is... my time is very (very very) short!! So I pack, go to school for mom duty, look for job and pray, pray, pray. In the end, I believe everything will work itself out and things happen for a reason and one door closes another opens and every other cliche you can think of. For now... I take things one day at a time and keep moving forward.
I know I'm not alone!!!!
During all of that time, I was able to dedicate myself to D#4's Color Guard team. I became the new mom to the girls and I have loved every second!! I'm the mom out on the field during practices supplying them with water, snacks and stuffs. I'm not alone, of course. There are 150 band and color guard students to take care of, so it takes two of us to handle them. We have had 2 competitions so far and have had placed in both but the showcase is this weekend and it is the one where we really want to take the top prize!!
In the midst of all of this, I have to begin packing my house. Yes, foreclosure is at my doorstep. It seems to be taking over the country right now and I have been awaiting my turn for a while. I have ended my marriage of thirteen years but I'm in a very good place with that. It may have well ended the life the girls and I have come accustomed to, but in my heart, I know I have done the right thing. We may have to leave what they have come to love behind (because he does not believe he should pay for where he does not live anymore)-- but I think through it all they are handling things quite well. In the end, it will be him that suffers...the girls are smarter than he thinks.
My next step is to hopefully find a stay at home job (hard find--I know) before we lose everything. Bad thing is... my time is very (very very) short!! So I pack, go to school for mom duty, look for job and pray, pray, pray. In the end, I believe everything will work itself out and things happen for a reason and one door closes another opens and every other cliche you can think of. For now... I take things one day at a time and keep moving forward.
I know I'm not alone!!!!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Summer Fun
What did I sign up for here??? Most of you know that D#4 made the Color Guard Team for her high school. What you don't know is that our summer has been shot to hell and back again. While I couldn't be more proud of her, my body is aching for her. It started in July with a week long camp to learn flag throws. 9am - 5pm---not so bad. She was excited every day and came home afterwards to practice.
Last week was a toughie. Again 9am-5pm but they had to now put their moves to music. The day started with an extremely rough workout. Outside, in the heat (and here the heat is unbearable) for 2 hours! A mile run, push-ups, crunches--you name it, the drill instructor had them dropping like flies. I know this because like a good loving mom, I volunteered for the week. Thank goodness I did!! Mine was one of the ones that dropped!! I administered the water and gator-aid to the victims and escorted them into the gym where they could re-coup in time to start the aerobics session of the day.
All in all the week didn't go so bad. A few kids dehydrating, some puking and a sprained ankle (again--mine) caught some very demanding instructions to make sure they eat fruit and drink plenty water before returning to camp. These next two weeks are the worst of the worst!! We start at 8am and don't finish until 8pm!! Yes, that's right a whopping 12 hour day.
I decided, since I was there the entire week last week, that I would take a couple of days off this week. I will be right back there again tomorrow morning watching these kids put all of their hard work together for their performance at the end of next week. They are a very hard working group and intend to win a competition held in Lafayette, LA at the end of October. Though they return to their homes every day exhausted, smelly and looking like wet mops, their efforts will be paid off in the end.
Of course, I am especially proud of D#4 for sticking this through and can't wait to be sitting in the stands watching the football team lose (hate to say it but they are not one of the best football teams in the area.) and waiting like everyone else in the stands for the half-time performance. Even the opposing teams' band comes over to our side of the stands to watch a trophy winning Band & Color Guard perform!!! Will definitely try to post some video when they perform---although my footage may be bias!! I will be focusing on my baby girl for the whole thing!! Wish us luck!! See ya soon!!
Last week was a toughie. Again 9am-5pm but they had to now put their moves to music. The day started with an extremely rough workout. Outside, in the heat (and here the heat is unbearable) for 2 hours! A mile run, push-ups, crunches--you name it, the drill instructor had them dropping like flies. I know this because like a good loving mom, I volunteered for the week. Thank goodness I did!! Mine was one of the ones that dropped!! I administered the water and gator-aid to the victims and escorted them into the gym where they could re-coup in time to start the aerobics session of the day.
All in all the week didn't go so bad. A few kids dehydrating, some puking and a sprained ankle (again--mine) caught some very demanding instructions to make sure they eat fruit and drink plenty water before returning to camp. These next two weeks are the worst of the worst!! We start at 8am and don't finish until 8pm!! Yes, that's right a whopping 12 hour day.
I decided, since I was there the entire week last week, that I would take a couple of days off this week. I will be right back there again tomorrow morning watching these kids put all of their hard work together for their performance at the end of next week. They are a very hard working group and intend to win a competition held in Lafayette, LA at the end of October. Though they return to their homes every day exhausted, smelly and looking like wet mops, their efforts will be paid off in the end.
Of course, I am especially proud of D#4 for sticking this through and can't wait to be sitting in the stands watching the football team lose (hate to say it but they are not one of the best football teams in the area.) and waiting like everyone else in the stands for the half-time performance. Even the opposing teams' band comes over to our side of the stands to watch a trophy winning Band & Color Guard perform!!! Will definitely try to post some video when they perform---although my footage may be bias!! I will be focusing on my baby girl for the whole thing!! Wish us luck!! See ya soon!!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Monthly Writer Moment
So June seemed to slip by without me noticing. Too much of the drama interferes with my commitment to my blog. For this session of writing I have chosen to pose a question. If you have read any of my blogs, you may have noticed that I love exclamation points!!! Here's the question: What is your favorite punctuation mark?
I actually have two and love to use them expressively! The first, of course, is the exclamation. It says so much, don't you think. I use it for surprise, shock, happiness and mostly to express that particular sentence with a did-you-catch-that kinda punch. Ex: My daughter made Color-guard at her school!!! I'm excited, thrilled, happy, proud and boasting all in one sentence using exclamations to shout about her achievement. I luvs being expressive!!
My second favorite is the ... (dot-dot-dot) Why? I'm not really sure. I think it's because it kinda leaves ya hangin. It's open to leave you to decide what your thoughts are after the ... I like the wondering, the what was he/she gonna say? The where did he/she mean to say? Is this gonna end good or bad? Does it do that for you? I like that it leaves you, the reader, to guessing and prompts you to read on. Recently, (and I'm a sucker for reality TV) the ... was used to end a relationship on the Bachlorette. The lying shithead left the show telling her let's not end this with a period, let's see how things go with you and the rest of the guys and we'll keep our relationship open with a dot-dot-dot. Naturally, she had fallen for the guy and continued to believe that there may be more to them because of his comment; leaving the rest of the guys hangin. What a douch!!! (notice exclamations) You get the idea of what a ... can do! What else was she suppose to think!
So there it is. My two favorite punctuation marks! I sometimes have to contain myself while writing, of course, but in my e-mails, blogs or chats, you will very often find my !!!! and ... appearing everywhere. Favorites anyone??? (Question mark coming in close third) See ya soon!
I actually have two and love to use them expressively! The first, of course, is the exclamation. It says so much, don't you think. I use it for surprise, shock, happiness and mostly to express that particular sentence with a did-you-catch-that kinda punch. Ex: My daughter made Color-guard at her school!!! I'm excited, thrilled, happy, proud and boasting all in one sentence using exclamations to shout about her achievement. I luvs being expressive!!
My second favorite is the ... (dot-dot-dot) Why? I'm not really sure. I think it's because it kinda leaves ya hangin. It's open to leave you to decide what your thoughts are after the ... I like the wondering, the what was he/she gonna say? The where did he/she mean to say? Is this gonna end good or bad? Does it do that for you? I like that it leaves you, the reader, to guessing and prompts you to read on. Recently, (and I'm a sucker for reality TV) the ... was used to end a relationship on the Bachlorette. The lying shithead left the show telling her let's not end this with a period, let's see how things go with you and the rest of the guys and we'll keep our relationship open with a dot-dot-dot. Naturally, she had fallen for the guy and continued to believe that there may be more to them because of his comment; leaving the rest of the guys hangin. What a douch!!! (notice exclamations) You get the idea of what a ... can do! What else was she suppose to think!
So there it is. My two favorite punctuation marks! I sometimes have to contain myself while writing, of course, but in my e-mails, blogs or chats, you will very often find my !!!! and ... appearing everywhere. Favorites anyone??? (Question mark coming in close third) See ya soon!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Father's Day Delight
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!
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!
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
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