valerie’s Neighborhood

I've been over at another blogging site for a few weeks- just to see if I like it. As much as I love Vox it doesn't allow non-vox members to comment and if I decide to start my own website I am stuck moving everything over. Not fun.

So check out the new pad: Beeb Writes 

I've added some of my neighborhood to my links there but if you should change your blog address, let me know so I can update!

I am still contemplating if I'll be keeping this blog going. It lacks focus and direction. I've been reading up about writing and finding a niche. A lot of resources recommend starting with what you know... how do I zone in on something I am no longer part of?

My life use to be filled with completed tasks and getting things done. Multi-tasking was my forte. Now, I multi-task but it moves MUCH slower. And half the time I can't get around to completing what I start. I love my child to pieces but I feel like a part of me is lost and unsure of which direction to go...

So for you mom-writers out there: how do you do it?

I have been doing some serious birthday party planning. My son turns 1 early in August. We don't usually throw parties so I think this one is getting a little out of hand. It started as an innocent BBQ party but now it has grown into a whole outdoor affair.  Complete with jumpy things.

So far the amount of people invited is roughly 154 people. Yeah. I don't expect everyone to show since a few are out of state. It'll be a big bash anyhow. We're getting a huge cake and a slightly smaller one for the little guy to demolish.

In other news... can I say Baby T is not so "baby" anymore? Yep, that's right folks, he decided he wants to walk! It was mostly a nightly ritual - he would walk back and forth between my husband and I... and that was it. Now the distance between us gets longer and longer and if I don't pay too close attention I'm finding T launching himself off of whatever he's holding onto. 

I'm getting my hospital bag ready.

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Yes. That is a picnic table.

I am toying with the idea of moving my blog. I absolutely LOVE it here and I love the people I've met here too. I even feel creative here.

So what's the problem?

It really bothers me that non-vox members can't leave comments. Not like I write for the comments but I have a bunch of friends - with blogs - and it is nice when we can keep up with each other through them.

What's a girl to do?

Following Prana's lead, I have started reading Yoga and the Quest for the True Self by Stephen Cope.

I am just getting into this book but it already has me thinking on a deeper scale. And it has me thinking about the mat a little more. Things have been super busy lately, not to mention the little one is getting around! 

I am sure that these excuses have no place here since I am sure I could have found at least 15 minutes here or there to practice. Sometimes the setting just isn't right. I stayed at my sister's house the night before the wedding and I just didn't feel comfortable sticking my butt up in the air - let alone ujjayi (sp?) breathing - in front of everyone.

Yoga probably could've helped me some. I have been battling a head cold since the day after the wedding. My body is funny like that. Once the dust settles, my body decides it's tired of warding off sickness. The same thing use to happen whenever I came home from college. I wouldn't be home a whole day and suddenly, I'd have a full blown fever, complete with shakes and cold sweats.  Now that I think of it, the same thing use to happen over Christmas break when I was younger... must be my body's way of dealing.

Even now, I feel foggy. I'm almost out of the Sicky Woods and when I am I'll be back... hopefully, with more appealing posts.  ;)

I entered a contest where they gave the first sentence and I had to continue from there. It is to be no longer than 200 words. The bold is the line given and the rest is what I came up with. Enjoy!

He smelled something burning.

Ah yes, that sweet smell. It made his mouth water and the hair stand up all over his body. Since Nick was a child, he craved fire. What his parents thought was a “cooking accident” at the age of 15 was no accident at all. Nick watched the flames lick the wall and consume the home he was born in. He had never seen anything like it.

Nick stood on the sidewalk, mesmerized by the hot glow. He wanted to reach out for it, embrace it, and let the fire consume him. He remembered that day like it was yesterday.

There were a few other fires and no one could deny Nick had a problem. He had some medication and regular shrink visits…

Then, the doctors said he was better. Cured was the word they used.  Everyone could breathe a little easier.  What would his doctor’s say if they saw him now? What would they do if knew how he felt?

Nick inhaled deeply.

He put on his helmet and dashed into the flames wearing the fireman uniform his father passed down…

This is how it works: you get 5 words and with these 5 words you have to write an entry. The words might or might not be related. You decide how to combine them, and how long your entry will be. You tag your entry with 5wordchallenge and whatever other tags you like. Finally, you put the words in bold.

This week's challenge: carpet, jury, pasta, shapeless, whey

The jury sat unmoving. Tension filled the air.

The whey sat in a bowl on the courtroom table.

Next to it a plate of dirty noodles.

At the prosecution table sat a woman, arms crossed at her chest.

It had been proven her child put down whey instead of milk for the family cat.

That issue would be dealt with later.

She couldn't believe it had come to this.

The courtroom door opened with a bang.

A shapeless man stood with the blinding sun behind him.

Finally, he stepped forward and her husband came into focus.

Then, he spoke...

"I confess. I spilled the pasta on the living room carpet."

Well, I got the mail today and I received one postcard back acknowledging the publisher has received my manuscript. I also received a rejection letter (!) from an agent.  I'm pretty excited. Not only am I one rejection letter closer to becoming published but it was actually a LETTER. No generic postcard with a "No" plastered across it but an actual letter! 

I can honestly say I'm happy. There is something about sending out your work and having professionals look at it.  It's pretty scary at first but it just makes the whole journey more exciting. Like I am writing seriously now. For real. Not a hobby. I know my story needs some tweaking still but I needed to send out a few submissions to get me to the next stage. In a weird way it gave me momentum. It has also allowed me to put my story aside for a week or two so I could come back fresh instead of beating it to death.

I am currently fighting a head cold after a long (wedding!) weekend. I'm sure my post isn't put together in the best way but I just had to say that "I'm pumped" about the future of my story.