This is hard for me to articulate, because it's been percolating in my head for so long... I'm not sure it's going to come out right! I just know I've been training my whole life for this project, this dream. It's as if I had to have the experiences I've had in order to be worthy of getting to this point. So here goes, I'm throwing this out into the universe!
I want to run a non-profit. I want to bring music, Portland's at-risk teens and words together in ways that will have long lasting impact. I want to run an organization that combines free writing and music workshops and teen events. The workshops will run, like, four times a year. The events will meld the inspiration of words and the inspiration of music together to change lives. In my dream, Portland based bands like Floater, Everclear and others will play and Northwest authors such as Stephanie Meyer, Sherman Alexie, and others will give readings between sets.
That's my dream and I'm sticking to it. The how is whole nother ballgame. But I'm working on it.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
My Husband is a big A** Baby
And I don't care who hears me say it.
For the record, I love this man. He has worked for his family harder than any man on the face of the planet,(just ask him). How could you not love a man who grocery shops, keeps my car running, fixes stuff and does laundry? Seriously. Plus, he has a great sense of humor and makes me laugh more often than not.
But.
No, make that BUT.
He is a baby. What's that baby chant we used to taunt little kids with when we were bigger kids, but not big enough to be totally secure in our bigness? Kind of like neener, neener, baby needs a binky, or something like that? That's the kind of BABY I'm talking about.
I've always known this. He is NOT a good patient. (He will admit this himself.) At twenty he ruptured his appendix and by the time his mother got there, the nurses were all like, "Oh, Thank GOD, she's finally here!"
So this shouldn't be news. I've nursed him through many an illness, after all.
But now he has a hernia and the end of the world is AT HAND. When he told me on the phone that he had to have surgery, and would be down for a month, I ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK. I thought, if that man is going to be sick for a month, I'm outta here. Whatever sick, sadistic S.O.B. wrote the vows in sickness and in health never had to take care of MY husband. Turns out, he would only be down a few days and would be on light duty for a month, but that is the kind of EXAGGERATION I am dealing with.
I'm trying to be sympathetic, really I am. But a hernia is NOT that big of a deal. MILLIONS of people get them and have them FIXED. I understand it is a big deal to him and I'm trying. God, am I trying.
But for the love of all that is good and holy, he's whining to a woman who had TWO children without the benefit of drugs, a twelve hour BRAIN SURGERY, BRAIN RADIATION, and had a blood vessel in the back of her sinus CAUTERIZED with VOLTS Of ELECTRICITY! WHILE CONSCIOUS.
I could SMELL my own BURNING FLESH.
Ahem. So I am really struggling with being as sympathetic as he needs me to be. Possibly because there isn't ENOUGH SYMPATHY IN THE WORLD that would satisfy.
There. I just had to get that off my chest.
For the record, I love this man. He has worked for his family harder than any man on the face of the planet,(just ask him). How could you not love a man who grocery shops, keeps my car running, fixes stuff and does laundry? Seriously. Plus, he has a great sense of humor and makes me laugh more often than not.
But.
No, make that BUT.
He is a baby. What's that baby chant we used to taunt little kids with when we were bigger kids, but not big enough to be totally secure in our bigness? Kind of like neener, neener, baby needs a binky, or something like that? That's the kind of BABY I'm talking about.
I've always known this. He is NOT a good patient. (He will admit this himself.) At twenty he ruptured his appendix and by the time his mother got there, the nurses were all like, "Oh, Thank GOD, she's finally here!"
So this shouldn't be news. I've nursed him through many an illness, after all.
But now he has a hernia and the end of the world is AT HAND. When he told me on the phone that he had to have surgery, and would be down for a month, I ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK. I thought, if that man is going to be sick for a month, I'm outta here. Whatever sick, sadistic S.O.B. wrote the vows in sickness and in health never had to take care of MY husband. Turns out, he would only be down a few days and would be on light duty for a month, but that is the kind of EXAGGERATION I am dealing with.
I'm trying to be sympathetic, really I am. But a hernia is NOT that big of a deal. MILLIONS of people get them and have them FIXED. I understand it is a big deal to him and I'm trying. God, am I trying.
But for the love of all that is good and holy, he's whining to a woman who had TWO children without the benefit of drugs, a twelve hour BRAIN SURGERY, BRAIN RADIATION, and had a blood vessel in the back of her sinus CAUTERIZED with VOLTS Of ELECTRICITY! WHILE CONSCIOUS.
I could SMELL my own BURNING FLESH.
Ahem. So I am really struggling with being as sympathetic as he needs me to be. Possibly because there isn't ENOUGH SYMPATHY IN THE WORLD that would satisfy.
There. I just had to get that off my chest.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Nano and Other Crazy Things
Yep, I'm doing Nano. For the first time in like seven years, I had the concept and the motivation at the same time on the first of November. This idea might be THE high concept, break out novel I've been waiting for. So I went to a nano write-in last night and I can't believe how tough it is to just write and not edit. I've done it before, usually at the end of the book as I'm trying to finish, but never at the beginning when I am trying to lay a good foundation. All I have to say is December is going to be FUN.
Speaking of Nano... I went to the meet and greet last Thursday night. So I am sitting at Powells, chilling with my peeps and I hear loud applause behind me. The woman across from me says, “Some really popular children’s author is in there. Some guy named Eoin Culfer? I guess he wrote a series called Artemis Fowl?” I freak out, text my son, and run over and buy his latest and stand in line for an hour to get his autograph. I get my pix with him and bring the books home to my son, who actually gets teary-eyed! There are two authors in the world he would die to meet: one is JK Rowling, the other is Eoin Culfer.
Serendipitous!
Off to add to the 1800 words I wrote last night! (After midnight, of course!)
Speaking of Nano... I went to the meet and greet last Thursday night. So I am sitting at Powells, chilling with my peeps and I hear loud applause behind me. The woman across from me says, “Some really popular children’s author is in there. Some guy named Eoin Culfer? I guess he wrote a series called Artemis Fowl?” I freak out, text my son, and run over and buy his latest and stand in line for an hour to get his autograph. I get my pix with him and bring the books home to my son, who actually gets teary-eyed! There are two authors in the world he would die to meet: one is JK Rowling, the other is Eoin Culfer.
Serendipitous!
Off to add to the 1800 words I wrote last night! (After midnight, of course!)
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Been so Long
Since I blogged. Sorry about that, but life has been a whirlwind of nonstop activity. The new job/promotion has been taking up quite a bit of time, but I love it, so all's good.
I think I'll wait to reveal my other announcement. That's just the way the cookie crumbles, or the ball bounces or whatever homily/cliche you want to toss into the mix.
On the good news front, my agent is back into the swing of things. Love her to pieces!
Actually got to write this week. WOOT!
Went to the eye doctor and now need bifocals, which makes me officially old.
Haven't seen my friends in far too long.
Yada, yada, yada.
I think I'll wait to reveal my other announcement. That's just the way the cookie crumbles, or the ball bounces or whatever homily/cliche you want to toss into the mix.
On the good news front, my agent is back into the swing of things. Love her to pieces!
Actually got to write this week. WOOT!
Went to the eye doctor and now need bifocals, which makes me officially old.
Haven't seen my friends in far too long.
Yada, yada, yada.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
What I've been doing other than blogging
Basically working. 11 hours a day five days a week. More news:
1. Got a huge promotion at work that comes with a hefty raise.
2. Book club started last night. I missed my girls so much! We are starting with the Geek Girls Guide to Cheerleading. So good!
3. Am settling into the afterschool job and falling in love with the kids.
4. Am settling into the Penneys job and am actually getting useful.
5. One of our best friends came down with colon cancer.
6.My agent is back and reading the revisions of Speed. We hope to go out with it soon.
7. I have another announcement to make shortly that I am really excited about. Have to wait to say anything though. No, it isn't a book deal.
8. Am trimming down everything because I have time for nothing. Am learning to multitask. Hence the lack of bloggage.
Miss you all!
1. Got a huge promotion at work that comes with a hefty raise.
2. Book club started last night. I missed my girls so much! We are starting with the Geek Girls Guide to Cheerleading. So good!
3. Am settling into the afterschool job and falling in love with the kids.
4. Am settling into the Penneys job and am actually getting useful.
5. One of our best friends came down with colon cancer.
6.My agent is back and reading the revisions of Speed. We hope to go out with it soon.
7. I have another announcement to make shortly that I am really excited about. Have to wait to say anything though. No, it isn't a book deal.
8. Am trimming down everything because I have time for nothing. Am learning to multitask. Hence the lack of bloggage.
Miss you all!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Boooks, Books, Books!
When I get stressed, as I am now, I read. Luckily, since everyone has been sending me books for the book club, I have a lot of new stuff! Because I've been so busy, my reading has been done in sips rather than gulps, but that's okay, as long as I can do it!
Books I've read in the last couple of weeks:
Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker
Melissa has been wonderful to our book club and even made a Vlog answewring the girl's questions. She sent Lovestruck Summer and I dove right in. Love the indie music vibe it has and loved the growth of the main character. My girls are going to adore this book!
The Geek Girls Guide to Cheerleading by Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance.
Wow, this was so good. Very different and I loved the main character. Totally sucked me in.
Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle
What's not to love. Witches and magic and romance set in Regency England. What a fabulous debut. Am jealous, I am!
What I'm reading now: Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
My gorgy niecy girl gave me this one to read. Am totally sucked in and am reading when I should be writing!
God, I love books!
Books I've read in the last couple of weeks:
Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker
Melissa has been wonderful to our book club and even made a Vlog answewring the girl's questions. She sent Lovestruck Summer and I dove right in. Love the indie music vibe it has and loved the growth of the main character. My girls are going to adore this book!
The Geek Girls Guide to Cheerleading by Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance.
Wow, this was so good. Very different and I loved the main character. Totally sucked me in.
Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle
What's not to love. Witches and magic and romance set in Regency England. What a fabulous debut. Am jealous, I am!
What I'm reading now: Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
My gorgy niecy girl gave me this one to read. Am totally sucked in and am reading when I should be writing!
God, I love books!
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
I forgot
I found the antidote for a very bad day... A bottle of wine and hot tubbing with a good friend. So nice!
Today I start my new job while still working my old one. I'm scheduled for 11 hours between the two of them. Writing? What writing?
Actually, I have a feeling that I will be probably write more because I will force myself to write whenever I have a free moment. Can't wait till next weekend! I wrote a lot over the holiday weekend and finished one proposal. The next item on my writing to do list is to finished the edits my agent wants on my full ms. Had a couple of breakthroughs last night as I was falling to sleep... and miracle of miracles, I still remember them!
Onward, people!
Today I start my new job while still working my old one. I'm scheduled for 11 hours between the two of them. Writing? What writing?
Actually, I have a feeling that I will be probably write more because I will force myself to write whenever I have a free moment. Can't wait till next weekend! I wrote a lot over the holiday weekend and finished one proposal. The next item on my writing to do list is to finished the edits my agent wants on my full ms. Had a couple of breakthroughs last night as I was falling to sleep... and miracle of miracles, I still remember them!
Onward, people!
Friday, September 04, 2009
Teri's Very Bad Day
Warning: Whine acoming.
1. Wake up to dh throwing the overhead light on at 3:am with "An animal puked all over our new couch."
2. Children left house a dive last night. Dirty dishes everywhere and a dishwasher full of clean dishes. Consider killling them, but decide the funeral cost would wipe us out.
3. Husband very ill and whiny. Had to go to doctors.
4. Discover that uniform is still in the washing machine and wet.
5. Don't have time for a shower. Opt to curl hair instead. Find out there's no hairspray.
6. Don't have time for breakfast. Discover it's gonna be a long day at work.
7. Get massive headache. Beg son to bring Excedrin to work.
8. Have to put away three hundred bras.
9. Old lady patially disrobes so I can fish the tag out of her skanky old bra and tell her what size it is. I kid you not.
10. Accidentally scrape hard, brown old lady bump on her back with my fingernail. She gets upset. I wonder if I now have old lady skin under my nail and what that might do.
11. Husband goes to doctors and is diagnosed with diverticulitus. Which gives him a real reason for whining. Now I HAVE to be nice to him.
12. Children fighting over who gets my car. Everyone but me, I guess.
1. Wake up to dh throwing the overhead light on at 3:am with "An animal puked all over our new couch."
2. Children left house a dive last night. Dirty dishes everywhere and a dishwasher full of clean dishes. Consider killling them, but decide the funeral cost would wipe us out.
3. Husband very ill and whiny. Had to go to doctors.
4. Discover that uniform is still in the washing machine and wet.
5. Don't have time for a shower. Opt to curl hair instead. Find out there's no hairspray.
6. Don't have time for breakfast. Discover it's gonna be a long day at work.
7. Get massive headache. Beg son to bring Excedrin to work.
8. Have to put away three hundred bras.
9. Old lady patially disrobes so I can fish the tag out of her skanky old bra and tell her what size it is. I kid you not.
10. Accidentally scrape hard, brown old lady bump on her back with my fingernail. She gets upset. I wonder if I now have old lady skin under my nail and what that might do.
11. Husband goes to doctors and is diagnosed with diverticulitus. Which gives him a real reason for whining. Now I HAVE to be nice to him.
12. Children fighting over who gets my car. Everyone but me, I guess.
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