ACK!

All the words that want to come are NOT about the articles I have to write they are about the manuscripts I want to write. I’ve been procrastinating like crazy. Staring at a bunch of research and nothing is coming. Sorry if I’ve been complaining a lot. I’m just in a grumpy mood. I think I just want to be with friends. You people. Friday we get in the car and drive to Florida and I have to finish my articles (4) by then. I know. ACK! So stupid to let them heap up on me like this. I’ve tried, just not hard enough. Double ACK!
That’s all. I’m going to try again now. 

Five on Friday

1. I’d really like to get my MFA in writing for children. One of the things that has held me back is that there doesn’t seem to be any program that includes a certificate or even studio classes in illustration. (the other is money)

I’ve been looking into Simmons, Vermont and Hamline and I’m wondering if any of you graduates would be willing to talk a little about what you think is different about the programs. Certainly faculty is different and that must effect the culture of the program. If you’d like to comment that’s great. If you have more to say and you’d prefer to write me directly contact me at anna at annajboll dot com. That is my website address. Thanks

2. I love snow, but ice storms not so much. I guess that is one benefit of living south this winter.

3. My freelance work may be over. The client says they love me but are cutting expenses. They might try to do it in house or they may hire me. We’ll see.

4. My toe is healing from a nail-echtomy. It actually hurts less than it has for the last two weeks. I originally injured it on the surfing simulator at the Great Wolf Lodge. I know, I know… I didn’t mention it before. What? I didn’t want to be bother. 

5. I’m heading into DC tomorrow to see Mom and Sister. I better get Chanukah candles while I’m there. I sure as heck won’t find them around here. 

bonus:
6. I’m in the waiting room on a picture book manuscript. All fingers crossed. 
 

Lurking

 Usually, when I don’t have anything to say, I just stay quiet. Today is Monday though and I’ve been pretty good about posting on Mondays so I’ll just start and see what comes up.
1. My novel is out to my first readers and then onto the editor who says she wants to see it.
2. My agent has been working hard on my account and it is nice to see our relationship grow. We are both working hard for a sale and have high hopes. 
3. My freelance work is both a drag and a necessity. Dollars are good: especially at this moment in economic history and this time of year.
4. I am so thankful for my family. I wish my hubby was happier in his work but I understand his lack of enthusiasm. Oh that we could all do exactly what we want and not have to worry about money. We would end up on a farm with me in a dual MFA program (illustration and writing for children). Then I’d teach in a university somewhere in New England. Such realistic dreams yet seemingly so unattainable.
5. Hubby especially wants to see snow for the holiday but it is not going to happen for us here in MD. Plus, we are headed to his parent’s home in Florida for Christmas day. Oh well.
6. We saw BOLT this weekend. Predictable but very fun. The art was, of course, amazing. I especially liked the credit animation at the end. 
7. Have you seen the movie trailers for Desperaux? I’m so disappointed. The art is so different from Timothy Basil Erring’s, the mice so people-y, the story so seemingly changed for the film. Ack! What do you all think?

Well, I guess I had something to say then.

Family Game Night Suggestions

 Between our move and my husband’s travel schedule our family event nights: movie night, game night, Shabbat dinner, have been pushed aside. Tonight we reinstated game night and I thought I’d share some of our family’s favorites in case you are looking for family gifts. If you have your own favorites, chime in and write a comment.

Set: This thought provoking game has deceptively simple directions. You have to create sets of three cards. Each card has four characteristics: shape, number, filling, and color. For the cards to make a set, the characteristics must be all the same, or all different. 

Take Off: Get your fleet of airplanes around the world before your opponent. You toss colored dice that take you on various paths towards your destination. If you roll a "Take Off" you draw a card to a city somewhere in the world that could move you forward or back. A fun game and neat teaching tool for geography.

Cranium Family Fun: Unscramble words, find objects in your home, identify pictures, draw, act, and guess your way to fun as the sands of time fall through the hour glass.  You work in teams for this one so it is especially fun when two families get together.

One hundred forty four days and counting

If you are a NESCBWI member you may have heard about the new Social Networking aspect of http://www.NESCBWI.org, MyNESCBWI. If you haven’t visited the new ning, created by web guru Greg Fishbone, take a look, sign up, and friend me. I happen to know that Greg is looking for web work so if you are looking for a web guru you may want to contact him. Mostly the ning will be a spot for New Englanders but if you live outside of the area (like me for now) and are homesick for the colorful autumns, white winters, and brown springs then the ning may be the place for you.

Greg placed a count down gadget on the ning that tells you how many days are left until the spring conference. "Oh good," you say. No, this is not good. This is the ultimate in deadline manifestation. It even has hours and minutes left, slowly they tick away revealing how little time I have to get all the conference work done. ACK! It makes me feel like this:

My co-director  

[info]arialas

   says, relax. That’s almost as long as a school year. Hmmm… So maybe it feels more like this:

"Bring on the chocolate!" I say.

Art Emergency

 "If this is an emergency and you need to reach someone in the art department please press zero…"

I think this is one of the funniest messages I’ve ever heard. Perhaps I’ve gotten ahead of myself. Those of you who know me, may know that I was a classroom teacher in Maine for ten years. I am trying to expand my teaching endorsement on my certification so that I can also teach art. To do so, I have to get some studio arts and art history credits on my transcripts. This is kind of funny in and of itself as I have taken numerous studio classes, just not for credit. But I digress. The local college has various drawing classes and I’d like to get into the right one so I’m trying to get a portfolio review. The drawing teacher had the above message on his phone. I’m trying to think of what an Art Emergency might be.
Here are some I came up with. Feel free to add on.

I’ve made a mistake and I knead an eraser.
The Bernini and Rubens are Baroque and I can’t fix them.

And the real emergency that all of us face:
I’m not good enough to create this art.
There should be a 24 hour hotline for that one. 
"I’m gonna talk you down, Ma’am.  Just stay with me on the line while we send someone to critique the art and give you a hug."

I’m sick.

The good thing about working from home:
You can still work even though you look and feel like death warmed over.
The bad thing about working from home:
See above.

I wish I had jamarattigan ‘s chicken noodle soup but instead I have gathered the following arsenal from the grocery store:
1. three (3) huge boxes of Puffs
2. one (1) large carton of OJ
3. two (2) cans of Progresso Chicken Noodle soup
4. one (1) box of Sinus Decongestant and Pain Reliever
5. one (1) box of Little Debbie Chocolate Fudge Brownies 
6. one (1) bag of cough drops

A huge shout out to all those New England SCBWI folks who recently were honored by an SCBWI Grant and a special wahoo! to Kirsten Cappy who received a letter of merit in the unpublished category. Most New Englanders know Kirsten as the person who put together the Portland, Maine Mugglefest, the engaging LL Bean scavenger hunts for Melissa Sweet, and many more highly creative publicity ideas for children’s authors. She’ll be giving a workshop in April at the NESCBWI conference.

Silly me, I didn’t even realize that you were writing and submitting Kirsten. Congrats!!!

A List. Why not?

1. The kids were home last Tuesday for Veterans’ Day, and then Thursday and Friday sick. It was hard to get anything done

2. I was so happy to get some Mom and Dad time this weekend and they were happy to see the kids. There was much leaf raking and jumping.

3.. My mom, a long time journalist, editor and public relations guru, is always my first editor so I was pretty darn pleased with her positive reaction after reading my novel through this weekend. I’m ready for my own read through and revisions now. 

4. Sunday, I slept all day long as I got the same virus the kids had. 

5. Hubby away to Las Vegas for the week. "A little less conversation, a little more action…" He said he wouldn’t do any of the fun stuff without me even though I told him he could. Isn’t he sweet?

6. This list is not very insightful but it is easy to read.

Jacob- First Full Draft Complete

 I am so happy to report that I have completed the first full draft of my novel. At 107 pages, it seems a little short, but I feel as if I told the story that needed to be told. I’m sure there is plenty to be fleshed out in the second draft but I can’t even think about that yet. First a little happy dance… then some caring for my two sick kids. I’ll read it to the family over the next couple of days and then start to make changes. First readers, get ready.