I'm Wise to You...

      Yeah, you can try to hide your fascination with my gracefulness, but it's no use. I know it. You can't lie. Don't bother. You are obsessed with my dancing ability. I've even heard you say, "Sioux, your dancing is unlike any dancing I've ever seen." Remarks like that make me bust my buttons with pride...

      
      Over the years I've endured grueling dance lessons from the best of the best--Elaine Marie Benes.  In case you've just crawled out from under a rock, check out one of her stellar performances. After decades of practice and recitals, I've reached the pinnacle of dancer-hood--now I'm resting on my cellulite-riddled butt laurels... 

      And check out my story in Sasee magazine. It details my climb to the top--of the heap (it's a pile of something, that's for sure).

Anne Lamott---I'm in Sasee! Are You?

       Bless my little pea-brained (when it comes to writing and literature) husband. His idea of good readin' is something you can enjoy while you're in the bathroom, creating an "event" of major stinkitude. He's only read several books from cover to cover (and he's proud of that accomplishment)--and only one novel (which is one we both love)--so he knows nothing of what makes a wonderful writer.

      Last week, we caught Anne Lamott on NPR while we were in the car. (Usually I hate NPR, although I do enjoy "Car Talk.") I screamed at him to 1) be completely silent and 2) don't even think of changing the radio station.

photo by soulofatlas

      Well, now I'm really frothing at the mouth. See the foam? Don't get too close to me--I might bite you in my excitement.

      'Cause Anne Lamott is coming to St. Louis. Tomorrow. I am going to get there (hopefully) early enough to get a seat. I will have my copy of Bird by Bird in my hot little hands, if I'm allowed. And I'm also sure I will buy at least one other book. (I already have several more of Lamott's books.)

      When I squealed about it this morning to my husband, he said, "Well, you're in Chicken Soup for the Soul. And you're in Sasee. Is that Lamott woman in Sasee?"

      Bless his heart...

It's Raining!

         Yeah, I know, it's really raining outside. If you spend hours and hours on your coiffure like I do (ha), this is not enjoyable weather for you. But you might not know this:  it's raining inside (for me) as well.

        These "droplets of joy" fell down on me today, when I am (now) thousands of words behind in NaNoWriMo. I am in such a state of desperation, when I revise a sentence I just wrote a moment ago, if it involves getting rid of a word, I sniffle and whine and cry a tear or two.  I'm trying to think of myself as the Little Engine That Could...IthinkIcan, IthinkIcan, IthinkIcan...and I tell myself that if I stick with it, when I emerge victorious on the other side, the process will have made me stronger.

        Right now, it's killing me.

        But as I checked my email this afternoon (it's a professional development day, which for teachers, is like a day off--at least from kids), I found not one but two emails that said "Yes."

        Who said "yes," you say?

                              Chicken Soup for the Soul
                                                  and
                                               Sasee 

       Of course, the Chicken Soup for the Soul collection might be a no later on, but right now, my story "The Ones From Zirconia Are Just as Nice" is in the final round for their Here Comes the Bride anthology,  due out on May 15, 2012. I'm keepin' my fingers crossed.

      It's a definite "yes" from Sasee.  My story about my money-making endeavors when I was a kid will appear in their December issue.

     And who do I have to thank?  The Coffee and Critique Group (especially Alice with her notorious red pen) that I met with a few times this past summer, for one. Even though some of the grumpy old men looked down their noses at the schmaltz of Chicken Soup-type essays (Doyle, I'm not talking about you), the suggestions I got from Donna, Marcia, Becky, Lou, Doyle and the rest of their gang really got me into the mood to submit. Merci!

    Also, the writing group that I am currently in is due some chocolate. (Or, maybe another cream cheese birthday cake? How about it?) They are a bit too subdued and dry and boring for my tastes, but what the heck--I'm not in it to be entertained and to get my pantyliners damp, I'm in the circle to improve my writing. Beth M. Wood and Linda O'Connell, both published in Chicken Soup and Sasee, encouraged me to send the childhood story in; Tammy and Lynn gave me wonderful suggestions to improve it as well. (The Chicken Soup one I did completely solo, which is a scary thing to think about, considering it is me we're talking about.)

    Barbra had it all wrong. DO rain on my parade.  I love this kind of rainfall...