Publishing A Book (Waiting for the Ink...)

Who knew trying to get a book published was a full-time job you don't even get paid for? Thankfully, I was kind of prepared for it. And, thankfully, I "stay-at-home" so in between feeding children, cleaning up after children, telling whining to children to stop whining, telling fighting children to stop fighting, and then feeding children again, I can sit my little patoot down and do some writing and spend some time looking for agents who might be willing to take a look at my work. I log each one that I send my query to but I've only heard back from two and they said they are not interested at this time. Ouch. But that's okay. I was prepared for this. 

I was also prepared for my printer to run out of ink but now I need to order more ink (I'm very impatient and would almost rather go to the store and buy said toner for an arm and a leg) so I can't print anymore until I get more ink. And Staples doesn't take files from a Mac and I haven't gotten a tutorial yet on how to convert my files into a PDF, so here I am waiting. More waiting. 

The reason I need to print it out (double-spaced) is so I can send it to my sister's boyfriend's aunt who has never met me but loves my sister, thus she's rooting for me, and she has connections to all kinds of people who might be able to help me. Thanks, Leah and Linda!

Otherwise, thankfully, agents accept queries, synopses and manuscripts electronically!

So this picture shows what a finished (or somewhat finished because when an editor gets their hands on it, it will look totally different) manuscript looks like. And this is my beloved laptop that accompanied me to Coffee Depot many days so I could spend some uninterrupted time writing. (Yes, that is Justin Timberlake on my wallpaper.)

So I will go back to my friend the Internet and look up yet many more agents. Meanwhile I'm waiting for the ink...

First Day of School

My baby started third grade today!

Martha's Vineyard

We visited the Vineyard last week for the end of our summer vacation. What a great way to say goodbye to summer. Although I've been there before, I usually cram everything on the island into about 24 hours. This time, I had an entire week. It was leisurely and lovely. There were a lot of things I wanted to do that we didn't get a chance to do. It's kind of hard to get everything done with three kids who mostly want to stay at home and watch movies, but still it was nice. I would have liked to see a sunset--after all, it's mostly beach and flat land. And I would have liked to go to the beach more although I worked on my tan in the backyard of the house I stayed in. 

So what did we do? Ma

tt and I were 

able to escape one night and go to Sharkey's C

antina, a Mexican restaurant. We met some 

nice locals there and struck up conversations

. Then we parked our car at the house and 

walked into town, ending t

he night with drinks at a bar. 

Me and Dad and the girls went to the beach one day. Mom and Dad's friends met up with us and spent the day with us. We went to a flea market and also went into Vineyard Haven where mom and her friend had to visit Carly Simon's store called Midnight Garden.

On Friday there were fireworks at night in Oak Bluffs, a big to-do at the end of summer on the Island. I parked myself on the Common for most of the day to secure a spot for that night. That was a pretty amazing display of fireworks and we got front row seats (or blankets). We visited the Farmer's Market in West Tisbury, apparentl

y a huge thing there, sometimes with a celebrity or two but none that I spotted.

And we walked around the shopping areas in Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, consuming lots of burgers, fish & chips, fudge and beer (not necessarily in that order). I rode my 

bike a lot--actually we all did, except for mom and Stella. 

A good time was had by all. Enjoy some pictures.

I'm a Dork but I like New Kids on the Block

Okay, so apparently New Kids on the Block are back. I don't know how long that's going to last. It's just a publicity thing. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved them when I was twelve. It's just kind of funny for a comeback like this.

I will enjoy it while it lasts. When I first heard their new release, "Summertime" and then saw them at the Today Show in New York City (which, yes, was cool!), I couldn't believe how I felt. There has been nothing, absolutely nothing, that has been able to make me feel like a very young teen, the way the New Kids on the Block's comeback has. 

Except now they're men and let me just say they have aged quite well. While I was in NYC, there were lots of posters of them from back in the day and yes, I thought they were cute then, but slap up a new poster of them any day. I could stare at that for awhile, at least until they fizzle out again. 

I never thought I would ever again hear the words, "The New Kids on the Block concert is sold out!" or on the radio, "Here's the new song by the New Kids on the Block". I had good reason not to think about them ever again. I mean, really, why would they cross my mind? They were a phase. But I hope this one lasts for awhile. I just WISH I could have gotten tickets to a concert. At least now, though, I've seen them live and I'm glad I had to wait almost twenty years because they are NOT kids anymore.

I think the most ironic, weird thing is that when "Summertime" comes on the radio, my girls come running for me to tell me that New Kids on the Block are on. They scream, they dance, they laugh and they sing along with me. And then the song ends and I put my ipod back on and listen to "Summertime" for the fifteenth time that day.

Long Lost Brothers?

Is it me or do Justin Timberlake and David Beckham resemble each other sometimes? 

I'm Gonna Be an Auntie!!!!

Stay tuned...

Locks of Love

So Tatum cut off ten+ inches of hair last week to donate to Locks of Love. I had told her about it awhile ago and asked if she ever wanted to do it and she was really interested. I was going to wait until after her dance recital in June but her hair was getting out of control and I wanted it gone. So I made an appointment at my salon and the rest is history. I sent it to Locks of Love and Tate even got a certificate from her teacher and recognized her at a school assembly earlier this week. The school is putting a little piece about it in the Feinstein newsletter for the school. (Feinstein as in Alan Shawn Feinstein.) When I walked into her school this morning, there is a picture of her at the main entrance with her new little hairstyle. 

I had no idea anyone was going to make such a big deal out of it but she's really gotten a lot of attention from it. I guess people are happy to see a little kid do such a selfless thing, especially when that hair is practically her identity. 

Rock on, Tate!

DURING