Coming Up for Air!

Whew! Week one down, two more to go. I think I've read 400 pages of educational theory in the last week, as well as developing a comprehensive lesson plan and creating a power point presentation and answered several discussion questions and written summaries, and logged into thread discussions 100 times...{{pant...pant}} Good news is...I got an "A" on my first big assignment. I know, that shouldn't matter, but I can't help it. I can't stand to do a job halfway.

Today, I went into my class room and painted...not the walls...lovely watercolor pictures. Well, mine wasn't so lovely, but it sure felt good. One of my new colleagues gave us a class on painting so we can figure out how to do it with our kids. I'm feeling better about it all the time, though I have a ton to do.

But I'm still smiling because my book is done! I'm about to plunge back into my studies. My DH left tonight for Vermont where he will be attending a conference with few other colleagues from the college. He won't be back until Sunday...blah! I just hope my kids can deal with a scatter-brained mama for the next 5 days. My 10-year-old can handle anything, but my 6-year-old might need a little more attention.

Now...deep breath...diving back in....

{{{ SPLASH }}}

Working through the Flu

Just stopping for a minute of air. On Tuesday, I started my courses--two intensive 3-credit courses in elementary methods--and along with the work came a stomach flu. I'm still not quite right, but I'm getting there. Spent most of Wednesday in the bathroom and most of the last three nights in fitful dreams and restless sleep. And the coursework...oi! It's a bit overwhelming, but I have no just but to plow on through.

Fond remnants of Harry Potter play in the back of my mind, just to keep me sane. And of course my own, now complete masterpiece!

Can We Say Productive?

What a weekend! So, I collected my sacred copy of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS at Midnight on Friday, immediately read 100 pages before hitting the sack. Got up early on Saturday and drove to my DH's office at the college to get some quality quiet so I could finish the last chapter of my own WIP and totally revamp my synopsis. Achieved that goal. (Wahoo!) Returned home in time to take the family out for some Mexican dinner (no cooking for me!). Read a couple of chapters of HP to my son before immersing myself in the rest of it while he dreamed little dreams of broomsticks and horcruxes.

Woke up on Sunday and started reading, taking a break to finalize the synopsis and email it and the first chapter back to the contest. DH took care of dinner (What a guy! Brought me tea and bickies, too!)

1:00am--FINISHED HARRY POTTER!

Thank you Jo Rowling. I am satisfied and sufficiently gratified.

So what did everyone else do this weekend?

IT'S DONE...IT'S DONE! I FINISHED IT!

My book is complete. Oh, how hard it is to say goodbye to these people who have lived in my head for so long. I see their faces. I hear their voices. Yes, I know I'll see them again--more revisions, in my dreams, on the shelf at the bookstore! The dead are buried and the living are on their way. And yes, people die in this book. But it's done!

Whew! Now I have to rework my synopsis and hope I don't drive myself completely insane with it. How do you crystalize 277 pages into 1 or 2 pages that still have that voice, still elicit such emotion? I have yet to discover the answer to that one. But I'll keep trying.

And don't worry...you'll find no spoilers for the Deathly Hallows here. My lips are sealed (on page 150 at this point!).

FTSSSSSSSSS....

That's the sound of the air being let out of my balloon. After collecting my dearly awaited copy of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS last night at midnight, I logged on to YAFiction to discover that the prize was not yet awarded--but there was a note! Apparently no one's synopsis really stood out, so the founder of the site has decided to extend the contest another 10 days to allow for revisions and more entries.

Nothing stood out?! Oh figs! I guess I have more work to do than I thought. So now, I have to finish my last chapter (only a couple of pages away!), revamp my synopsis, AND read Harry Potter over the next 3 days, before my course work gets started. Excuse me for a moment...

BLAHHHHHHHHHH!

Okay, I think I can handle it. I'll be back...

Harry Potter and the Secret of the Hopeful E-Mail...

So Friday should reveal a couple of nagging secrets that have haunted my dreams for the last 2 weeks! Yes, I will be in line at midnight to collect my pre-ordered copy of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS. But before I march out into the darkness, I hope to have news of the YAFiction contest. We just got the post that the decision will be made and announced on Friday, July 20th. A few more days to hold my breath. In the meantime, I had a fabulous weekend with my revisions and am now standing on the threshold of true completion--well, at least of this draft! I am hoping to squeak out some time over the next couple of days to finish it up. Then I'll be truly ready for whatever comes next. Keep those fingers crossed just a little bit longer!

My New Passion--Archery!

Since I was a wee one, I have always wanted to try archery, but as far as my father was concerned, my Red Ryder BB gun was enough. So I spent my entire childhood deprived...well, that may seem a bit melodramatic, but to a kid, that was a big deal. Now that my son has spent a few cub scout meetings at the archery range, my husband has become obsessed and decided that with some of the extra money from teaching a summer course, he would satisfy his obsession and mine. He was thrilled when I told him I had always wanted to give it a go, and before we knew, both of us were well armed for the sport.

In my first outing, I shot I don't know how many arrows before I realized that a huge welt was growing on my forearm, a nice little token from my bow string slapping my arm. I was having so much fun that I never noticed my bursting blood vessels! A week later, I have a lovely green patch, still tinged with a delicate hint of purple, about the size of a kiwi. The solution? An arm guard.

Yesterday, we went out in the morning and shot for a while at a target in our back yard. It was my first adventure since we were outfitted at the shop last week, so my first shots were a bit erratic. Take a close look at that target...the purple arrow smack dab in the middle is mine! Bullseye!

Do you think Robin Hood has room for a Merry Maiden?

The Synopsis--Holding my breath until the 15th!

Well, I just hit the send button and the synopsis of my latest book is flying through cyberspace towards the generous founder of YAFiction.com in hopes of a chance at representation. Yep! YAFiction.com is having a contest for its members wherein the winning synopsis gets to submit the synopsis and first chapter to Maya Rock at Writer's House for consideration and/or critique. I've been revising the ms and the synopsis all day, trying to carve out that writer's time I've been worrying about. I can't believe it's already after 4:00 in the afternoon. I'm only halfway through chapter 12! But I got the contest piece out there, so wish me luck!

Now to forge ahead with the rest of the story... (thank you Paul Harvey, wherever you are!)

It's official: I'm an American!

You Passed the US Citizenship Test

Congratulations - you got 10 out of 10 correct!

Could You Pass the US Citizenship Test?

OK--so I was born here, but it's nice to know I remember a few things about our history. Thanks to Aisha for the fun diversion from my crazy deliberations over the job. Still have swollen eyes and an upset stomach...but it's coming. The resolution, I mean.

Well, It's All Hittin' the Fan, Now!

Yes, indeedy. Got a call last night regarding my certification and what 's required for the job I just got. Apparently, I needed Elementary certification, and of course, I have secondary certification. I don't have any elementary methods coursework, and that is what is necessary to even get the ball rolling. I wish I would have known that before, but everyone assumed that a license was a license. I've been a wreck. Spent most of last night crying over it, and even more so at my husband's disappointment that I won't fight through it. I just don't have it in me right now. I know my limitations. And while I think I can do a good job of it, I don't want to commit myself to a whole new life that will nix my writing and take me away from my family even more. More money is just not worth it. I want quality of life.

So, we're back to planning another year of scrimping to get by, trying to find ways to pay the bills and get at least my daughter in the private school. I can teach at the college. They still have classes open, though I may have less choice in the schedule. It's not much pay, but it would keep me open for other things. Since I went to the training last week, I have felt overwhelmed about the Waldorf job, afraid that I don't have it in me to meet their expectations and mine. Sure, everyone says, "Oh M.A., you'll be fabulous!" I know they mean well, and I believe they mean what they say, but I need comfort and validation of my emotions. My gut is trying to tell me something, and it has never been wrong.

So, here I stand--a disappointment to my DH, and an emotional wreck. He's trying to be supportive, and put away his own financial worries. Right now, I just need to plunge back into my manuscript and find myself again. That is where I need to live.