Saturday, December 4, 2010

On New Beginnings

Ever stick your foot in your mouth without really meaning to? It happened to me.

See, my parents are letting go of their house and moving up north. Why? Because the job situation is so bad where they're at that they can't afford to stay. Now, while this stinks, I don't know that I'd call it a fail of epic proportions. Sure, they're getting older, but neither one is anywhere near retirement. They held on as long as they could, but sooner or later the winds of change step in and sweep you along whether you want to go or not.

The fail is, they're upset over losing the house. So what do I do? Make a crack about having the nice big house and hiding from the snow. Doh. Open mouth, insert foot. Will have to send chocolate to say sorry :-p

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Drawing a blank...

So, it’s 10:30 at night, I’ve still got a huge pile of work to do, and I really should be writing (and finish drafting this PR sometime before I die) but instead I’m going to take a hot second to update this blog. Why? Maybe it’s because I haven’t done it in a while. Maybe it’s because I just posted “Tea’s 4 Two”, a blog I’m going to be sharing with a friend out here on the web (and one that will likely get more traffic than this one ever will). Maybe it’s just because I’ve had so much happen in the last 2 weeks, and I’m dying to share it with somebody.

Whatever the case may be, here I am at 10:30 at night reminding myself that it’s important not only to schedule time to appreciate the moments that take your breath away, but also to appreciate them as they come.

Let’s see…where to start. I guess I’d have to start with the idiot from my history class, since that’s what’s got me up in arms at the moment. It takes a lot to get me angry, but closed minded people who proudly display their ignorance and their unwillingness to move past that ignorance do it quickly. I’ll spare you the details and simply say he was eager to find offense where none existed, and heartily insulted me in the process. I can rationalize it left, right and sideways, but the bottom line is, he pissed me off. My feelings were hurt. And because of that I (completely subconsciously, I swear) managed to cattily back him into a corner whereby his only defense was to tell me he was no longer commenting and I wouldn’t change his mind.

Best. Cop out. Ever.

Okay, personal rant? The fear of someone else imposing their opinions on you is the sign of a weak mind. If you can’t have enough faith in your beliefs to sit down, listen and honestly consider the other side of the story, you don’t have beliefs. What you have is a mind that’s been cleverly molded, which is what I suspect we’re dealing with here. I want to rage and shout and smack this individual across the head for being so deliberately ignorant and narrow minded that they can’t accept that the way they view the world isn’t always how the world is, but I can’t. Not only is it not kosher on the discussion boards, but I learned a long time ago that making enemies when you work in a public domain is ALWAYS a bad idea.

Doesn’t mean I’m going to let him get the last word though. I just haven’t figured out where I’m going to go next. Hey, nobody’s perfect.

Work. Next to school, work consumes most of my time. Things are awkward right now because I find myself at the crossroads, in which I’m struggling to get things lined up for my replacement while keeping up with the status quo and taking on new work to set the stage for future clients. My last day of work is going to be December 17, and I’ve promised myself a sabbatical through January to get things back in order and get my youngest through his surgery. Maybe work on some personal projects-lord knows I have enough of them at the moment!

I’m going to miss the people I’m working with, horribly, but I’m excited about the change in gears too. It certainly doesn’t hurt that I’ve had some past clients approach me about the possibility of doing some work, so I’m not plunging blindly into the unknown. And hey, worst comes to worst I’ll spend a little time playing Mommy and catching up out on the web. I’m almost a month behind in the big, wide, wonderful world of XKCD, and my Fanfiction peeps are wondering if I’m still alive. With the third story in my trilogy to finish up (after a short break, I’m thinking, I’m burning out quickly on this fanfic), a website and a couple of blogs in the works and a portfolio to create, I have faith I’m going to stay very, very busy.
No worries, da? And now I’m off to scratch out another blog post for my 3rd blog (the one I’ve been neglecting horribly) before I talk my hubby into another episode of Stargate: Atlantis and head off to bed. Long day tomorrow. Very, very long…

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Questions

I'm sitting here at midnight, at an empty table in the middle of my dirty house, contemplating questions, priorities and choices that need to be made...soon. What do you do when what looks like a perfect fit isn't quite so perfect after all? When you discover that what you hated about your old life is the one thing you miss most about your new one? I'm loving my job, the people are great, but I feel like I'm constantly running three steps behind trying to catch up on the skills to encompass my growing responsibilities.

Now that I've actually written that, I look at it and realize that it isn't the responsibility that bugs me. It's the series of unfortunate events that has us running two weeks behind schedule, with disasters lurking at every turn. We're still trying to finish customizing the software, struggling with website programming errors and crashing and burning trying to pull in a graphics artist to finish the print pieces for this. *bang head here* There's another big project right around the corner, and while part of me swears up and down we'll be a little more organized this time around, we know what we're going to be dealing with, etc., etc., I can't stop the gut clenching certainty that it's all going to blow up in my face.

Paranoia? Nerves? (Lord knows I've been running on them for the past week.) Probably just simple overload-a project crashing and burning while I'm trying to deal with my parents coming to town, planning a Halloween party, homework and the need to pre-plan upcoming marketing events. I keep reminding myself I'm only one person, and I'm going to do the best I can do and that's the best I can do, but that doesn't stop the fact that this is my responsibility and I feel like I'm letting everyone down.

*sigh* All right, on to cheerier news. I can keep my angst to myself. Honest. Took the kids Halloween costume shopping today. Didn't make it to the pumpkin patch, but we had a great time prowling costume shops and department stores to outfit two pirates, a devil and a dragon slayer. It was great. What am I going to be? I have a gorgeous black velvet renaissance style dress I'm going to jazz up with a harlequin mask and (possibly) a pair of wings, or something fun along those lines. We'll just have to wait and see what that "something" turns out to be!

Anyway, I'm off to upload pictures to Facebook. (I'll make sure I post Halloween pictures here when I get a chance.) Have a great day everyone!

Monday, September 6, 2010

A Labor-less Labor Day

With Labor Day finally here I'm able to kick back, relax and enjoy a surprisingly labor-less day in which I can, oh, I don't know...actually write in this blog! All right, so I'm actually sitting at the table like a Supreme Court judge overseeing the slow, tedious process of making my 4 year old actually eat his lunch long after his brother and sister have left the table, using my laptop to keep me occupied so I don't become impatient and start yelling at him to eat more than one pea at a time, but hey, no one's perfect :-)

I am, however, incredibly impressed by how much easier it is to get peas down him when there are baked beans in the offing. I think I really need to remember this for next time.

It's been an interesting week. Tomorrow marks my first "official" day of working full time for East Ridge, and between that, the beginning of a new class (which I still haven't ordered my books for-oops) and the manuscript I'm working on for a client, free time is going to be in short supply this week. Factor in the first week of school and the endless piles of homework, paperwork and last-minute runs for school supplies that always go with it and it's going to be an interesting week.

And did I mention there are visits to the orthopedist to factor in? In a move that makes me feel like the worst mommy of all time, I discovered that the sore wrist that I thought my darling little drama queen was just being overly dramatic about (yet again) was actually broken and should have gone for an x-ray a full week earlier than it actually did. So Chelsea is now sporting a cast that she's going to have to start both school and dance with, and I'm sporting a massive case of guilt that's inspiring me to permit almost unlimited ice cream privileges.

Considering the fact that we've been making a genuine effort to be more health conscious around here since we discovered her weight was waffling in the red zone (being short and overweight is a genetic curse down both sides of her family, unfortunately, and we've been trying to encourage healthier habits because of it), that's saying a lot.

It's not Garrett's eating habits, my massive case of Senior-itis, work or Chelsea's broken arm that's been consuming most of my time, however. I told you earlier I'd been Twilight-ed. Well, I have been slurped into writing a fanfiction that actually shows Bella growing up and getting it together, and what was supposed to be a very short short story that brought her and Jacob back together and taught her the difference between teenage obsession and an actual, honest-to-god grown up relationship has spiraled into something out of control. And that's with making a concentrated effort to keep it short!

"Out from Under" has devoured most of my days, and with the clock slowly ticking down and the final confrontation right around the corner I find it difficult to think about anything else. I have another idea for a fanfic in the works that promises to be a lot more complicated, and I'm not sure if I want to write it out as a fanfic or if I want to make an effort to actually turn it into my own story. Lots of background, drama, vampire politics, and with the exception of Bella and Jake's relationship it has little to do with the original canon. I don't know. I really like the fanfic community I'm working with, and I have to admit, their constant support is a big part of what's keeping me working on this story (and running to my inbox for comments every morning) but I like the idea of finally publishing something of my own.

I guess we'll see.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

The Age of Distraction

Wow. I never thought the day would come when I would have to remind myself that Rome and Ethics Papers weren’t built in a day! Yet I just had to forcibly remove myself from my desperate need to get all of my homework for the week done tonight, despite the fact that I’ve already done everything I had due for Thursday and am down to the journal articles for this week’s 3-5 page paper.

I really, really hate weekly papers. Having a paper due every week is ridiculously stressful. Don’t get me wrong, I much prefer it to the process of having a huge test each unit (although in the wide, wonderful world of open book quizzes you never know), but geesh. I think I’ve just gotten so used to being ridiculously stressed that I’ve forgotten how to sit back and take these things in stride.

Speaking of which, I still have to go move laundry. Ugh…

I’m looking at the remainder of my paint job wishing I could work up some motivation, but it’s just not coming. I love working full time again, but I forgot how tired it can make you! It was 8 o’clock by the time I finished work, picked up some groceries and got home. There’s a huge sense of accomplishment in knowing that if I absolutely had to, I could support myself financially though. That’s something I’ve never had to do. I moved back in with my parents when I dropped out of college, shared an apartment with my fiancée when I moved back out, moved back in with my parents when that didn’t work out, then moved in with my in-laws before I finally got a place with Mike. My financial burden has never been mine, and since the kids were born I knew I couldn’t handle it.

It’s nice to know that between my brand spanking new, full time job and the freelance jobs I could still take advantage of if I wanted to I could actually support myself for once.



Do you think it’s wrong to have never lived alone? My baby sister is chafing at the bit now, since she moved in with her boyfriend straight out of high school, and I can’t say I blame her. On the one hand, you shouldn’t move backward in a relationship. On the other, she’s never really been with anyone other than the guy she’s with now, and if she doesn’t get some space to finish growing up she’s going to implode on him sooner or later. I know. I’ve been there.

This past month was tremendously good for me, because for the first time in my life I actually lived on my own for more than a day or two. The whole “no hubby or kids for 2 weeks straight” and the fact that I really only had the kids for a handful of days in July translated to a nice, recuperative break for Mom, who got to eat when she wanted, sleep when she wanted and go to the movies whenever she wanted. And go see the midnight showing of “Eclipse” twice if she was so inclined!

Yes, I used and abused it, but I’m in a better place mentally for it, and I think my baby sis would be too. Now it’s a matter of convincing her boyfriend that letting her go is the right thing to do. The beginning of the end, or the end in the beginning? Who knows? The only thing I know is that TNT.tv is finally working, and I want to go see the end of Leverage before it changes its mind! Sayonara!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Of Green Paint and Gummi Worms

Dude, it's Monday. It's so very, very Monday. The huge amount of green paint currently staining my kitchen and dining room carpet-my fault, unfortunately-is screaming to me that it's Monday. Aside from the fact that this day started with both a bang (the paint can) and a whimper (mine) it hasn't been bad. I think it's the whole "finally got enough sleep" thing (after, like, 30 hours worth) but I'm actually bright eyed and bushy tailed today.

Boing boing. Now if only my head would stop hurting. These constant headaches are actually starting to worry me a little bit. It's like a never-ending throb in my head, usually on the right side, which is where my migraines always like to make an appearance. It could be allergies. It could just be a lack of caffeine. They're happening often enough, however, that I may actually ask my neurologist for an MRI next time I'm in his office unless they decide to stop making an appearance. I'm taking 2x's the amount of Imitrex I'm supposed to be, have been for a few months now. Enough is enough.

So, that was my whine of the day. I'm going to keep this blog post blissfully short. There were no gummi worms, sorry, as much as I might have wished otherwise! There is, however, a story outline I need to finish for a client who offered me a little freelance work, a touch of homework I need to knock out of the way and a fabulous book I'm dying to get to the end of. Oh, yeah, and there's the fact that I actually have to get out of bed and go to work in the morning. Ugh. Sayonara!

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Twilight-ed

I can't believe I'm about to admit this in a public setting-even if it's in my own blog, which I am absolutely, 100% convinced no one I know is actually going to read-but ever since I broke down and went to see "Eclipse" I've found myself getting hooked on the "Twilight" series.

Considering how low my opinion of that series is in the first place, that's saying something. Before I roll into raptures and you sit there with this, "Oh God, she's almost 30, what the hell?" look on your face, let me break it down. I think the series was poorly written. Reading it was like watching a train wreck. You knew it was a disaster, it was going to end badly and there was nothing you could do to stop it, but you just couldn't look away. You HAD to know what happened.

It wasn't because the characters were particularly loveable. Edward was...well, in my personal opinion there was nothing redeeming about Edward. He was an overbearing freak who manipulated Bella left, right and sideways. And Bella was a spineless pushover who stayed with the manipulating freak over, and over, and over again when she should have walked away. In the first two books it was easy to excuse her stupidity. She was young, and that type of devotion is incredibly flattering when you're in high school. She hadn't seen any of the real world, she wasn't old enough to make decisions that would last forever, and you assumed that sooner or later she was going to grow up and get over it.

Oh, don't I wish.

The catch is, I found myself REALLY liking Jacob. It was funny, because as I saw in another post, Jacob was only ever meant to be a supporting character. There was never meant to be a sequel to "Twilight", so he didn't play a huge role in the first book, and it was supposed to be incredibly obvious that he was always second best to Edward. I get that. The problem was, he was so much more LIKEABLE than the leech. He had personality, strength of character, and he made Bella seem more like a person and less of a porcelein doll, standing there with a blank smile on her face as she waited for someone to take her arms and tell her where to move. I honestly, truly saw Bella that way for the entirety of the series except when she was with Jake in New Moon, and I have to admit, I wasn't impressed.

The way they made "Eclipse", however, shifted the focus from the whole Bella and Edward and Bella's going to die (again) to the way Jacob felt about her, and how they were together compared to how she was with Edward, and I began to see a little bit of hope. What if you rewrote the series, and Bella could actually learn to love what was good for her? What if she decided to kick Edward's ass to the curb, which we were all just dying to see her do? Because really, who just welcomes their boyfriend back after he walks out on them like that? Who doesn't kick him in the ass for trying to kill himself after he screwed things up in the first place?

And oh, personal rant, because you have to look at the way Edward threatened suicide to get the girl back and see how that affected teenagers across the planet. Millions of teenaged girls swooned over the fact that he didn't want to live in a world without Bella. What kind of message does that give teenaged boys? That suicide makes them this dire, romantic hero? Oh. My. God. There's really nothing I can say to that. He was immature and stupid, and Bella let that influence her choices.

But what if she chose Jake? Suddenly these great, romantic possibilities open up. A whole future she could enjoy as a person rather than an automaton. Don't get me wrong, I love me some vampires. If she had a good relationship with Edward then we could have cheered when he came back, but Jake was SOOO much better for her. I look at that, consider what Jacob Black would be like when the boy became a man, and find myself captivated by the possibilities and the happily-ever-after none of them are ever going to get.

And so, I've been Twilighted. I've found myself digging for fanfictions that put Jacob and Bella together, just to see the story go the way it should have gone if Stephanie Meyer had decided to give Bella a REAL relationship instead of the tragic father-daughter, Romeo and Juliet thing she had going with Edward. I've figured out what the obsession is. I hate to see things end without a happy ending. I was sucked into Stargate SG-1 fanfic because they never put Jack and Sam together. I got sucked into Buffy fanfiction because, let's face it, when it's Joss Whedon NOBODY gets a happily-ever-after. And now I'm reading Twilight fanfic because Bella had a choice to make, and she's choosing wrong.

I guess somewhere, deep down, I'm still just a hopeless romantic at heart.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Bully for Borders

So, with the boss out of the office and the Internet at work on the fritz, I’m working out of what I’ve affectionately dubbed my “Borders Office” today-the high table in the corner of the Borders café. Excellent coffee, high speed Internet, snacks only a short walk away and, perhaps most importantly, enough atmosphere that I don’t get that oppressive feeling I sometimes get when I’m actually at work. Turns out, however, that when you’re planning on working in a Wi-Fi café that requires a redirect to log on to their Internet, you have to make sure your own security settings aren’t standing in your way.

Go figure.

It unfortunately took me the better part of a half an hour to figure out this was what was going on, however, and in the meantime I spent some time wandering around. It was then that I was treated to what had to be a golden moment in my day. A random man walked up to me and goes, “Do you know why it’s a good idea for women to date homeless men? Because after the date you can just drop them off anywhere!” Slightly lame, I’ll grant you, but I really had to laugh. After all, how often do random strangers walk up to you in a store and tell you bad jokes?

It was golden.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Of Sunburns and Swimming Pools...

Have you ever wondered why it is that things always look so much different at 1:20 in the morning? I’m snuggled in bed with my laptop on the awesome lap desk my hubby got me for Christmas, happily typing through a bout of insomnia that just might kill a lesser (wo)man with a smile on my face. Geekiness will ensue shortly, but first, let me tell you a tale of sunburns and swimming pools.

The short story is, after a month of being able to glut themselves on the company of cousins, my kids are bored at home. Incredibly, incredibly bored. So, in an effort to break up the monotony, I played hooky this morning and took the kiddos to the wading pool at Perry Park. Between the pool, the picnic we packed and the fact that they ran into a pile of their school friends while they were there, I thought I was going to need a crowbar to pry them out of there.

I didn’t quite have to haul out the hardware, but for a while there it was a pretty close thing. And since I managed to completely flake out and forget to apply sunscreen before we left, there’s going to be hell to pay tomorrow. I know, I know, let’s just skip the part where I’m a bad parent and move on. It almost seems redundant at this point.

Does anyone else ever notice that their older children tend to drown out the younger? I felt bad, since Garrett was the only one who didn’t really latch on to another kid at the swimming pool, so I tromped upstairs to visit with him for a little while this afternoon. I’ve realized that the reason the child never talks is that the poor kid can never get a word in edgewise! With Alex and Chelsea talking over him all the time he probably thinks he doesn’t have a thing to say.

One month and counting until I can ship them back to school…

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf...

It's funny how we go through life terrified of change. When we find a routine that works for us, and our lives are flowing along smoothly, we cling to that way of life long after it stops fitting who we are. The question then becomes, why are we so afraid of change? What is it we think we're going to discover?

What's really going to happen if we decide to let go and freefall?

Oh, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking it's easy for me to talk about change when it's not my life that's going to be rocked. I know how it feels to be terrified that the bottom's all going to drop out. I was a 17 year old single parent, a 24 year old contractor trying to make a living writing, of all things. I took the leap not because it was best for me but because it was what was best for the people I loved, and while there were some tough years in there I still managed to come out on top. So will you.

The greatest events of our history have taken place when someone finally gathered up the nerve to just take the plunge and let go. When we finally said, "I've had enough of this" and put it all on the line. Sooner or later, we get where we need to be. Hold on to that truth, and it won't be long before you're on your way to the life you've always dreamed.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Unfulfilled dreams, or future goals?

My youngest brought his pre-school graduation pictures home today. I have to admit to a touch of nostalgia as I remember doing this with Chelsea's class two years ago. The move up to Kindergarten. My kids really are growing up, and all I can do is stand and stare as it happens. Next year I'll have a Kindergartener, a second grader and a fourth grader, and I have to admit-it's weird. It leaves me wondering what I'm going to do with an entire house to myself all day!

The click of keys from the back bedroom reminding me I'm never alone, and the steadily growing pile outside my laundry room reminding me a mother of three has plenty to do, answers that question pretty efficiently!

Garrett starting school isn't the only milestone we're going to reach next year. I'm less than a year away from my B.A. in Marketing and Public Relations. I'm still freelancing-in fact, I just brought on a new client, an article writing company in California. It's kind of weird to look around and realize I've got everything and nothing I've ever wanted. I have a home, a family, a wonderful husband who loves me, even if he doesn't really get me, a job I enjoy most of the time when I'm not drowning under my to-do list and the degree I've always wanted only a hands-breadth away.

On the other hand, I haven't played music in years, and I live in a house that's painfully empty of it. I write, but I haven't taken the time or effort to get my own stuff published. I've started three different books, have some great ideas, I just need to get around to finishing them. I feel trapped and yet so free at the same time. I guess the trick for me now is to take this amorphous dissatisfaction and turn it into something good, something solid.

Don't look now boys. I finally started remembering who I am, and it's not the fat, frumpy, often depressed homebody I can be at times. It's time to kick back and have some fun!

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

The Sun'll Come Out, Tomorrow...

What an absolutely gorgeous day! We finally got to run around outside without our coats on. It was glorious. Who says the sun never shines in NY?

So, overall, it's been a very ordinary day. We missed the bus. Garrett got his pictures taken. I slogged through all the kids' arts and crafts stuff, and you can actually see wall AND carpet in that corner of the room. Did some laundry. Jogged through an episode of "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer," which isn't my favorite show but is great for a light pick-me-up first thing in the morning.

Discovered IDump4U.com. If you get a chance, go check out some of their videos. They're amazing.

Grabbed a shower, picked up my books from the library, grabbed Garrett from pre-k, dropped him off at his afternoon pre-k, came home, made myself a yogurt and granola parfait, and called my mother.

Then 12:30 rolled around. Yes, that's right, I managed to do all that before noon. I hadn't really thought about what an accomplishment that was!

Anyway, I started work around 12:45. That didn't go quite so well. I spent half the time answering emails. It's incredibly frustrating when you only have a little bit to do, and you know you only have a little bit to do, and you still can't get it done. I'm 3 articles into a 7 article set, with submission and distribution still looming. But revisions were made on the stupid newsletter I've been working on for weeks, and that should be good to go, thank God.

Picked up Garrett from school, then let him play outside until Alex and Chelsea were done. He played with his friend Liam for a while, until Liam had a melt-down and his mom made him leave. I keep offering to take him off her hands, but she's not buying. I don't know if she's uncomfortable with me b/c he got hurt playing with Alex in the yard last time or if she's just like that. I feel kind of bad that she keeps coming over here with him. It's not that I mind the company-I really like her-but I know half the fun of playdates is getting to get rid of your kids for a little while!

Anyway...

So, I grabbed Alex and Chelsea and we went to the store for Easter party stuff. 4 bags of cookies and who knows how many containers of cupcakes later, we were geared up and ready to go. Ran into Dad in the parking lot. Still not quite used to bumping into him at the grocery store after all those years of barely seeing each other. And the library. And the bookstore. Thanks small towns!

We get back home, we do some homework. Alex pounds out his math homework while Chelsea rolls through her spelling words. Then I kicked the kids outside.

Now, the smart thing to do would have been to get some work done here, but let's face it. Who can work at 4:00 when it's sunny and the kids are outside? I did manage to be somewhat productive-I read my chapter for school and made hard boiled eggs-but I still have a pile of stuff to knock out tonight.

Fortunately, I'm actually caught up on work for once. It's a good feeling. If I can crack down on Saturday I might even be able to have work and homework caught up while the kids are on break so I only have to put in an hour or two a day. We'll see how that works out.

So, we made dinner, the kids cleaned up outside. Pancakes and pork chops were enjoyed by all (yes, I know, I'm from down South-that doesn't seem wierd at all!) while the kids watched "Barbie and the 3 Musketeers". At that point it was time for laundry, bath and bed!

So here I sit, happily blogging and completely procrastinating doing anything productive. There's a cat hoping I'll open the window again so he can try and claw out the screen. One of these days, I might just give in and let him.

Heigh ho, heigh ho, it's off to work I go!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Too Tired to Blog

I want to start by saying that I love to blog. I really do. It's a great way to let go of the day's stress, share your story with people who are going to sympathize (like anyone ever reads this anyway) and just generally let go in an atmosphere where people are going to listen without judging you.

That being said, I'm going to take an opportunity to whine. A lot. Do you mind?

The problem is, I'm pooped. It's 11:00pm, and I just got a chance to sit back and relax. It's my own fault. I know it's my own fault. I over-schedule myself like a mug, then wonder why I can't keep my eyes open in the afternoons! With that in mind, I never complain about the mind numbing exhaustion to anyone on the outside. I'm finally getting into a schedule that works, but let me tell ya, it's been rough!

My day starts with packing lunches and putting kids on the bus, followed by a rousing load of laundry and dishes. Then I sit down and check my e-mail and Facebook, followed by an hour of exercise in front of my favorite tv show and a shower. Then I work until 11:30, take my youngest to pre-k, come back, have lunch with the hubby, work until 2:15 and pick up my youngest from pre-k. Then I either help him with his homework or grab him a snack and sneak in another half hour of work until the other two come home.

3:00 to 4:00 are usually spent doing homework, filling out paperwork and chatting with the kids. Then I try to work for another half hour before starting dinner. Then starts the long round of dinner, bath, clean-up and bed, usually followed by another hour or two of work and an hour or two of homework. Then I spend an hour or two (or sometimes 3) watching tv or reading a book and enjoying the first break I've had all day before passing out, getting up and doing it again.

Argh. I feel like I'm back in daycare, with every minute of my day structured for maximum enjoyment! I can understand why Alex resists daily structure as much as he does. It really sucks! And yet, he's a sucker for routine. Now that Sunday morning housework is the norm, he just gets up and gets it done. Bath time comes after dinner, so that's all cool. Yet let me announce a change in routine, and it's all over!

This from the child who doesn't want to go to camp because he doesn't want his summer structured. Go figure.

Monday, March 29, 2010

The Frustrations of a 3rd Grader

I know I complained this much about my homework. I'm absolutely sure I did. So shouldn't I have a little more patience with the fact that my third grader is throwing an unholy fit about having to study for a science test? He's driving me crazy!

I've never met a kid who hated homework quite as much as Alex does. It seems like every night is this humongous production designed for the specific purpose of making mom want to tear her hair out at the roots. Between the moping, whining, complaining and firm protestations that he'll never be done, I'm about ready to throttle him!

On the plus side, it's Monday. Wait, that's not a plus. In true Monday fashion, we overslept. I spent the entire day trying to wrap up a project I hd intended to have finished last night, only to find out that all of my hard work was for absolutely nothing because she wanted less than half of what I put on there. Grrrr. Urge...to...throttle...coming...

Anyway. Back to helping kids with homework and making spectacular plans for the waffle gala I've got coming on. Then I have newsletter and PR revisions, a PR to write and a handful of articles to finish before I can curl up with some "Kidnapped" and wish the earth would swallow me whole. Oh, and go rescue my cat, of course. Good grief.

On the plus side, I actually got to tell the cat to stop eating the Washington Monument today with a perfectly straight face. Thanks Snuggles.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

On how to write a murder

So, I finally did it. Today, I started the research for my very first book. I know, it doesn't sound like much, does it? For me, it's like a breath of freedom. I like ghostwriting, but if I don't start using my own creativity and talent I'm going to slowly wither and die.

Yes, it's melodramatic. I write for a living. Get over it.

What surprises me is how terrified I am to write this book. You, dear reader, will know what I'm talking about. This is the first time I'm going to take that step into the bold nknown on my own. There's no fictional name to hide behind, and if things crash and burn there's nowhere I can hide. It's all me!

So, even though you probably don't care, I'm going to tell you about it anyway. See, I love murder mysteries. I do. I love funny murder mysteries even better, which is probably a statement on my mental health I should really stop ignoring! The thing is, you get funny, or you get murder. That's it. I decided I was going to write a book I wanted to read, with all the dark humor and apathy you'd see surrounding a real murder today! And because I want to take the time to feel clever, I'm going to tell you how I did it.

First, I created a murder. A grisly, gruesome murder motivated by something much deeper than greed and stupidity (because really, if you're going to die anyway wouldn't you rather die in style?). Then I described my characters, right down to the lacy longerie my female detective is going to be sporting in at least one scene. Favorite book? Yep. Movie? Yep. Education? Yep. Got it all.

Now it's research time. Still working on that, because I want it to be good. I have to learn my criminal psych, my police procedure. Can't have my well intentioned detectives taking the wrong path, now can I? When that's done, I'm determined to write at least a page a day until it's finished. I have plenty of time for edits later, it's all about getting from point a to point z (and having a little fun with all the letters in between!).

Dear reader, if you're gearing up to write a book, I say....good on ya! Do it. Don't let fear hold you back. And let me know how it's going! Maybe we can share horror stories when the rejection letters come pouring in-because really, even well published ghostwriters like me have to get at least one on their first book. It's expected. I don't think I'll feel like I earned my dues without it!