May 2013
23 posts
1 tag
A thing I learned today
It’s okay to push yourself, but it’s not okay to beat yourself up. When you’re ready, you’ll (fill in the blank).
For me, (fill in the blank) was letting Brandon fend for himself. I am very good at giving him space. By which I mean I step back and then have a mini anxiety attack the minute some other kid approaches him.
What am I afraid of? I’m afraid the other...
“Immense, entirely itself,
it wore that yard like a dress,
with limbs low...”
– The Copper Beech by Marie Howe
One of the workshops I attended this weekend was a poetry workshop. The moderator read this poem aloud and I got all teary-eyed and sniffly.
We also did some writing exercises and he gave chocolate out to people who volunteered to read their results out loud. I...
“It spills me, the thought of him kissing me there.
His head is in shadow, his...”
– “Before I Die” by Jenny Downham
I found this quote when I was researching new adult and it made me cry. The book is about a young girl who’s dying.
About last night
Brain: Hey! Let’s have a drink! We deserve a drink.
Me: Um, I don’t know. Two years sober and all…
Brain: Yeah but come on. One measly little drink? After the day, nay, the YEAR we’ve had?
Me: Hmmm…
Brain: I mean come on. You’re done for the day. You did a fantastic job pitching your book. You’re child-free…
Bartender: What’ll it...
That time I was on The Voice
This morning I walked into a room with 3 literary agents sitting at a table. Except their backs were turned. They were all facing the wall. I had 30 seconds to pitch my book to the backs of their heads. If at any point one of the agents was interested, they’d raise their hand and I would then leave my synopsis and 1st 3 pages on the table for them to collect after I walked out.
It was...
Two hours in Pittsburgh
I met a man who told me he believes we are born with a set number of heartbeats. So he doesn’t exercise. He doesn’t want to waste his heartbeats running around the block.
I met an almost toothless man who recommended a place for lunch. The place turned out to be awful. Just awful. I feel like I should have seen that one coming.
I met a woman who asked me what kind of stories I write. I drew a...
Her: Your money will go farther in Buffalo. You’ll see. When we lived in Delaware we had an actual house. With a pool and a hot tub. On land! Here we live in a 1 bedroom apartment.
Me: Why did you leave?
H: My husband.
M: That’s why I’m leaving.
H: That’s why we all leave, us women.
He wants to see it!!
The agent who read the first 10 pages of my book for my manuscript consultation today wants me to email him the rest of it. Exclamation point!! Even though I was in idiot mode the entire time and said things like, “I google imaged you beforehand” and “I’m very shy, is that coming across?”
God. I am an idiot.
But hey, an idiot with a decent first chapter, right?
...
Good News!
neuroticdad:
I promised myself I wouldn’t use this blog for self-promotion but…
My Kindle Single is available from Amazon! It’s a “hilarious but moving” short novel about a young American in London in 1990.
It’s only $2.99. (UK, £1.99.) If you don’t have a Kindle, you can get a free app to read Kindle books.
I’ve had a great experience working with the editors at Amazon, and I think that’s...
1 tag
So here's the thing:
I walk into Panera and I’m greeted by Pablo. Pablo has a graduate degree in architecture, but he’s working at Panera because he lost his job. He asks me how I’m doing. Anything published recently? He pats my arm and tells me to let him know if I need anything. He smiles.
I walk over to my booth and on the way I’m greeted by Jimmy, a fellow Panera regular. He asks me...
3 tags
STM
The thing about being an angel is that it’s so hard to remain, you know, angelic. Imagine that you carry on your white-robed shoulders all the burdens of Heaven, but what you do with it, most days, is a big fat zero. Imagine that you can watch all of God’s creatures frolicking shamelessly, but instead of joining in, you’re forced to sit on the sidelines like some kind of holy referee. You’re a...
Dry cleaner dude: Are you sure you want to preserve your wedding dress? You could wear it again.
Me: Oh, it doesn’t fit me anymore.
D: I see…
M: I was a lot thinner when I got married.
D: Okay, well…
M: But, you know, I’ve had a baby since then.
D: Okay, w-
M: But I’m working on losing the weight. It’s just, you know, I like to eat! Haha…
D:...
ryanjjohn asked: Tag. You’re it. The rules are to state 5 random facts about yourself. Then go to ten favorite blogs and tell them they are it.
girl-detective asked: I tried, but in the end, I wasn't allowed to bring your Colin Firth through customs. Sorry :(
EVERYTHING MUST GO!
We’re moving in August. To the land of ice and snow and buffalo. Wings.
I’ve got a lot of stuff I can’t bring with me. So, inbox me your address and sometime over the next three months I’ll send you a gift. It’s like a garage sale except everything is free and you don’t have to leave your house.
I can’t guarantee I’ll get to everyone because my...
April 2013
51 posts
“She could never be a saint, but she thought she could be a martyr if they killed...”
– Flannery O’Connor (via juskysnewbooks)
Tumblr stuff
I don’t get people who follow me but never EVER heart any of my shit. But I see them consistently heart other people’s shit. And it’s not about needing validation. But just, like, tap tap is this thing on?
In general, vapid self-absorption and rampant “look at me I’m too cool for school” childish behavior doesn’t faze me. But if I know that you’re...
“How old is he?” I ask her when her son wanders away to get a refill on his drink.
I know what I sound like. I sound like a woman interested in her son. I sound like a cougar. Rawr!
But she only hesitates for a moment before answering, “Eighteen.”
“Eighteen!” I say. “My son is nineteen months old, and watching you two I keep thinking about how one...
2 tags
So your phantom follows me Like a child would...
real women
openareas:
I’m tired of this. Tired of everyone having some kind of opinion as to what constitutes a “real woman.” You know. You’ve read them all. Real women have curves. Real women wear dresses. Real women speak their minds. Real women read books.
Well, fuck you to everyone who thinks they can put constraints on what makes a woman real. Because guess what? Every woman is real. What does that...
highbob asked: What is Love? (#FiveforFriday)
nicky36 asked: WHAT DID YOU THINK OF CASTIEL?!?!?!?!?!?!
Jerkwads
1. People who tell me it’s going to suck in Buffalo.
3 tags
1 tag
M: Babe?
K: Mmm?
M: Are you sleeping?
K: Yes. No. A little bit. What’s up?
M: What about the mice?
K: The what?
M: The mice. The ones you work on.
K: Oh. What about them?
M: Are they moving to Buffalo too?
K: Yes. They are. The mice are coming too.
2 tags
1:45 am
I feel like I’ve finally found my groove. I pretty much feel like Supermom most days. Because I am. I’m Supermom. I get things done. I know my life inside and out. I’ve got this. I’m good.
And now we have to turn our lives upside down. Which is fine. It’s cool. It’s an adventure! We move somewhere new. New is fun! New is exciting.
But it’s also...
IthinkwemightbemovingtonewyorkandI'mkindoftotallyfr...
How I know we're getting on in years
K: How old is Colin Firth?
M: 52
K: Oh wow. He’s fairly young.
I’ll delete this. Tomorrow I’ll feel guilty and I’ll delete this. But tonight I need to rage. I need to OUTRAGE! I need to fury.
11:30 p.m.
That’s what time my mother texts me.
Because that’s what time my brother texts her to let her know that yes, tomorrow works for him for a birthday celebration for her.
Except I told my mother earlier this week that...
2 tags
How is it that I’m the only adult, normal, rationally functioning member of my family and yet I’m the one who always gets shit on?
“I thought I had a flea on my stomach but it turned out to be a freckle.”
– Ways my own body freaks me out
Truthful Tuesday
I just did the math and found out I am 38.
All this time I thought I was 36.
I’m not.
I’M 38 YEARS OLD!!!
1 tag
K: Do you want a spa day for Mother’s Day?
M: Oh that sounds amazing!
K: Like a massage and stuff?
M: No, no massage.
K: Just like a manicure?
M: No manicure.
K: Then what do you want?
M: I want a spa day but I don’t want anybody to talk to me or touch me.
A pretty-please appeal
cloudya:
Dear Tumblrites,
I need your vote! The first chapter of my book has been published on Jukepop Serials. But in order for me to parlay that into any sort of clout with the publishing industry, I have to show that I was able to generate interest.
You don’t have to read the chapter. All you have to do is scroll down to the very end and click the “vote” button. It will ask you to create...
scholvin:
Maybe it’s silly, but I’m finding some comfort in that quote attributed to Mister Rogers about looking for the helpers when things go wrong like this.
So many brave people, civilians and professionals, are out there right now helping the injured and clearing the area, and they don’t even know how many more live bombs might still be lying around.
It’s all I got.
A pretty-please appeal
Dear Tumblrites,
I need your vote! The first chapter of my book has been published on Jukepop Serials. But in order for me to parlay that into any sort of clout with the publishing industry, I have to show that I was able to generate interest.
You don’t have to read the chapter. All you have to do is scroll down to the very end and click the “vote” button. It will ask you to...
