Tag: about me

Atonement: please pass the mashed potatoes

Today is Yom Kippur, the Jewish high holy day of atonement. This means that I’ve been fasting all day and thinking about the wrongs I’ve committed throughout the past year. I’ve also been thinking of how I can make myself a better person and the world a better place. I went to services with my children. It was the first time we went to the synagogue in our new town and as in many smaller communities, it isn’t even in our town and required a bit of a hike. The book that they used was wonderful. Developmentally appropriate and focussing on peace and sharing and apologizing because none of us is perfect. It really spoke to me as did the Rabbi who spoke to the kids about laundry as a metaphor for Yom Kippur. Our clothes get dirty and it just happens. Then Yom Kippur (laundry day) comes and we ask for forgiveness. We come out clean and pure, as white as linens flapping in the breeze. We should try to keep our clothes clean but we know that they are bound to get dirty again. That we all make mistakes but we can always ask for forgiveness. 

The sun sets at about 6:30pm today and I haven’t eaten since last night. I’m feeling pale and weak so I’ll take just a moment to atone in public. (At least in cyber space.) I certainly make mistakes.

  1. I yell at my children more than I should and sometimes I’d like to whack their tushies. (Usually an, "I’m so angry I’m going to bite your nose off," gets everyone laughing instead.)
  2. I sometimes speak without thinking which hurts people I love. (I hope you’ve accepted my apology C.)

Recently though, jealousy, has been my undoing. (and at the root of #2) I can only speak for myself but I think that there are probably more than a few of us in this children’s publishing game who have been chugging away for a while watching friends and acquaintances receive their first, second, third… (you get the picture) contracts while we are yet to get our first. It’s hard not to feel that green nibble of envy, the hardness of heart that sneaks like a shadow over an otherwise cheery, supportive countenance. Perhaps it is only me and once again, I’ve spoken without thinking. In this case, please blame the light headedness that comes from lack of food. Or just accept my apology. I’m sorry. Sincerely.

Tags

 Most bloggers know about tags but for those who don’t, they are the words or phrases you assign to your journal postings to organize them. Theoretically, if someone wanted to know "about me" they could click on the "about me" tag on the left side of my journal page and all of the journals I’ve ever written with that tag would be available for them to peruse. I didn’t know about tags myself until April 4th of 2007 (I started the blog on Sept. 26th, 2006). I use them with other people. For Kelly Fineman, for instance, sometimes I have a poetry form question and can go in and check for her posts regarding a sonnet or haiku.

What is interesting about my tags is that they change in font size depending on how many of the entries are tagged that way. Recently, the "conference" tag has been growing at a steady rate along with the "writing" tag. You can pretty much tell what I’m spending my time on that way. You can also see what I’m not working on…illustration, reading books. Ah, well… to every thing there is a season. 

May you find peace on this solemn day.

My Election Story

 Today carriejones has a great post on why you should vote and why local elections are so important. I thought I’d just throw in my own personal story. 

In 1996 I ran for the Maine State Legislature. (As Carrie is doing now.) I was 25 years old, my husband was away on his first Navy deployment, and I was teaching full time. I had always been involved in politics as my parents were very active in DC local politics. They used to throw fundraisers all the time. This is where I learned how to shake hands confidently and tell someone my name while looking them in the eye with a smile. (Not an easy task for many.)  Maine is an interesting place and there are really two types of Mainers.  The born in Maine, northern, "ayuh", yankee ingenuity and independence mind, and then the summer-people-who-love-Maine-and-see-it-as-heaven mind. The later type are called people "from away." I am "from away." Moreover, I got there through a husband who was in the Navy. (Keep this in mind.)

 First I had to compete against two other Democrats to be nominated. I won the primary handily. I was young, enthusiastic and well spoken. I stayed on message (environment, education, economy) and knocked on many doors. In the general election, I was pitted against another new politician, the son of the local car dealer. This guy had money, and name recognition, and rested on his parents’ laurels. The election got a little nasty when he accused me of being a "Washington Insider" (I left when I was 18) and a carpetbagger (I stayed in Maine for 15 years until our recent move).  I knocked on more doors, answering his accusations. (2000 total) 

On election day, I visited polls and then waited with my friends for the outcomes. The race was tight. I had won in most of the towns but the last town hand counted their ballots and so we waited. In the wee hours, we got the numbers and I had lost. Lost by 51 votes. We asked for and got a recount but there was no significant change. If 52 more people had voted for me, I would have been elected. That’s not a whole lot. In his term of office, my opponent was only present 25% of the time. He was rebuked for playing water guns in the state capital. Needless to say, he did not run again. So if you think your vote doesn’t count, your wrong. Please register and vote for the whole ticket.

Monday in Maryland

A lot has been going on for me recently which means that every once in a while, I have to shake my head to clear some more space. Perhaps I am so groggy because we got back to Maryland at one in the morning after the 12 hour drive from Maine. We were in Maine to clean up  and fix up our house for the new tenants who move in today. The problem with cleaning and fixing for others to enjoy is that it makes me say snarky and grumbly things about my hubby. For example, "Why couldn’t you finish that trim when we lived here?" Or about myself, "How hard would it have been to wipe the disgusting finger prints off the door sill." Or about the garden, "Why do you have to be so beautiful and blooming when I won’t be here to enjoy it." Never-the-less, the renters are a kind family, and I’m sure they will enjoy it. 

It was definitely a list day. I couldn’t focus well without one. Mostly conference related work as we are getting closer to the September 15th deadline for workshop proposals. I have to tell folks that we are getting wonderful submissions but are short on illustrator submissions. (Not surprising, but if you know an illustrator who should propose a workshop give them a nudge.) Also I’ve received a couple of submissions directly to my email and these cannot be accepted. We have an online application at the following URL.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pTX9tH90r_7dHsW9536RyKQ

In other news. We have a Birthday! So here is a  birthday breakfast for you Jo Knowles. What do you mean it’s not breakfast time? It’s always breakfast time, especially when it is your birthday. See you soon dear.

(I know I need a new Birthday illustration. I’ll work on it.)

Five on Friday

1. I got a haircut. This is my userpic from 8/06.

Here I am now 8/08

Shorter is better for the heat. If you want the one with glasses, it’s my new userpic. I hope Katie C. likes the new and improved photo, she hated the last one.

2. For the last couple of months I’ve felt a little alone in my new development. Houses everwhere but no one in sight. Turns out that people were away or just hiding in their air conditioning. The school bus has brought out a swarm of parents and kids. We’ve taken to bringing a frisbee or football to the bus stop and everyone plays. This is quite different then the end of our little dirt road in Maine. Then it was just us.

3. We’ve been playing ultimate frisbee in the evenings after dinner. It’s great exercise and E, often frustrated by his brother’s excellent ball handling skills, has found a sport he can excel at. We come in sweaty and happy.

4. Conference planning is gearing up. Proposals for presenters are due on September 15th. I’d love to see proposals from LJer’s in the New England area. Travel costs are keeping us from recruiting far away folks. Here is the weblink to the CFP. (The  on-line application link is on the CFP.)

5. My Maine friends got me a gift certificate to a great indy book store here. Bay books is just wonderful and what they don’t have in stock they’re happy to order. I recently got:
and              

Thanks to

[info]d_michiko_f

 for the great tip on A Circle of Quiet and to

[info]kellyrfineman

 for the True Meaning of Smekday. I love Adam Rex’s illustration style and his “Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich…” poetry collection is a family favorite.

School Tomorrow

You may have noticed that I have been absent from the blogosphere for the last two weeks. Or you may not have missed me at all. (Read: shameless plug for pity and love.) 

I have been writing diligently. Unfortunately, I’ve not been writing for my work in progress. I’ve been working on my freelance writing. This is fine because it brings me money, (must complete timesheet and turn it in) and experience writing to deadline, but it does not fulfill me in the way that working on my novel manuscript does. I’ve also been noticing an itchy feeling that starts where my neck and shoulder meet and tingles down my arms into my fingers. It is a feeling between longing and stress and usually happens when I think about how many months have past (4) since the Scholastic editor told me she wanted to see the completed manuscript. She was very kind and told me 6 mos to a year was fine and that she’d remember me and the manuscript but I fear that she will not remember me at all. Or that she will get a similar, better manuscript in that time. Or that she’ll come to her senses and realize that my manuscript sucks. (Read: shameless plug for pity and love.) 

My kiddos go back to school tomorrow after a shortened vacation. They kind of got jipped when we moved from Maine to Maryland. (A late end date and an early start date.) So we will cut the summer short when it is still 90 degrees, they will return to the grind, NESCBWI Conference planning will ramp up (Call For Proposals anyone? They are due on September 15th.), and I will get my writing time back.

Moving has it’s ups and downs.  While everyone is very kind in our development, I’m not really a development kind of girl. We have a year lease here and then I think we’ll make some other decision. I’m trying to keep an open mind.  There are a lot of positives about being in this area, the most important is that I’m close to family and have been able to take advantage of this while hubby goes away on business, etc. Also, we took a spontaneous camping trip to Shenandoah National Park this past weekend which was just amazing. The mountain scenery made me think of Kerry Madden

[info]mountainmist

 and her lovely Gentle’s Holler series . Books  2 and 3 are on my TBR pile. I’m excited about getting back to that as well. Right now I have two kids itching for us to finish Chamber of Secrets and take them to meet their new teachers. I promise I won’t be a stranger.

Mom’s Blog

I’m pleased to say that my mother has been bitten by the blogging bug. If you’d like to check it out, link to Art and Politics with Ruth Jordan. My Mom is an amazing woman. A long time writer, journalist, and public relations guru, she is also a print maker.  I can promise you plenty of Democratic politics over there as November draws nigh. She is the President of the Greencastle-Antrim Democratic Club, part of the Franklin County Dems.

Ah-ha, you say. That is where Anna gets all of her organizational madness. Yes, my Mom was certainly a large part of it but both of my parents were union organizers so I think I got the gene double duty. I can say that my mother was my first editor. I’ve gotten a much thicker skin since then but her edits used to make me cry. Me: “But, Maaa-om, that’s not what I want to say!” Needless to say, she was right then and I’m finally experienced enough to admit it.  Recently, my mother finished her SCUBA certification. Not bad, for a 69 year old lady. (Way to go, MOM!) So take a look at her blog if you get a chance.


Mom and Dad on the Peaks Island Ferry, Casco Bay, Maine.

Slow Day

Freelance writing and laundry. That’s all nothing more to report. The children are vegging in front of the tube and I’m only feeling slightly guilty. At least they’re helping with the laundry. The AC repair folks are coming today. They said they’d be here between noon and 8 pm. It’s good to have a schedule, yes?

Moving Day

Hello Friends,
The packers are here and I’m shutting down the computer for a week or so. I’m happy to email folks with our contact info. Just leave me a comment and I’ll write you a more private message with the address, phone, and my new email. (Hoping to cut down on spam.)

Office Clean up

I apologize to those who read the blog regularly. Office clean-up seems to be a reoccurring theme for me. For those who don’t read, here is the cyclical process.

1. My office/studio is clean.
2. I’m all proud of my amazing organizational skills and reinvigorated.
3. I am very productive in this lovely clean space.
4. I make significant headway on a project trying very hard to put all my tools away and file papers as I go.
5. At this point some other project becomes necessary at the same time (going to a school visit, helping my children with a school project, directing a huge 500 person conference, giving my kiddo a birthday party, moving my entire married/mother life of 15 years OR ALL OF THESE THINGS!) and it becomes impossible to keep things organized.
6. The office is a huge disorganized mess.
7. I cannot work in my office. It makes me feel oogey, and all I can do is “friend”  people on Facebook, read blogs, and play scrabulous and word twist addictively.
8. I clean my office/studio. Sorting the keep and toss piles, reorganizing, sharpening pencils, spray cleaning the dust off my desk.
9. Go to #1

To those of you who are taking Laurie’s 15 minute a day challange, congrats. I’ll get to it as soon as I can see the floor again.