School Days, School Days

Over the past few days, it probably appeared as though I was more than excited for the girls to start school. Ecstatic may be the better word, but there are a variety of reasons, other than the obvious that I will now have the house to myself for six hours a day. However, while I may have been ecstatic for this blessed day, I believe that Cailyn and Erin were bordering on the hysterical. Getting them to sleep last night was a challenge and they were so hyped out that, believe it or not, getting them out the door wasn't so easy, either. Still, we had time to do the traditional first day of school pictures.... First, I wanted to go back and see the pics from the past few years of this--just of Cailyn of course. Here's what I found... August 2003: Cailyn's First Day of Kindergarten. Looking all school-girl in her sweater and plaid skirt, Cailyn was just thrilled to have the backpack and Barbie lunchbox. This is the big time! September 1, 2004 "Mom, I'm a big kid now..." With outfit picked out weeks before hand and a new pair of glasses (which, of course, she's not wearing in the picture), Cailyn announced the she was growing up--as if I couldn't tell from just looking at her. As I took this shot, I had flashes of middle school--and shuddered. I had to remember she was only going into the first grade... August 31, 2005: Sassy Second Grader. I have to say that is one of the prettiest "non professional" shots of Cailyn I've seen. She granted my wish of no fooling around during the quick pictures I took this morning. When I saw the picture after dropping her off, I was floored at what a lovely young lady she's becoming. August 31, 2005: Erin's FIRST day of school. Some may not see preschool as the real deal, but around here, it is. This is the first of many years of school pictures for my "baby". She had just taken a tumble before the shot, while trying to put her backpack on (remarkably, it only had a change of clothes and isn't as heavy as it looks). Still, she took a tumble in her excitement and got her feathers ruffled a bit. So, she still looks a bit upset in this shot. August 31, 2005: School Day Sisters Their excitement is so obvious here. Picture pretty much says it all. Both were dropped off without incident, by either myself or them!!! Parents will mulling about both at elementary school and preschool. Cailyn's teacher already had work on their desk to get them started (as a former teacher, I have to say, I like her style) and Erin basically put her items in her cubby, found the puzzle table and told me to get lost--not literally, but close enough. No tears for any of us. A huge relief. And, no skid marks on the pavement as I pulled the car away ;)

Some new pictures--Updated on Monday

First and foremost, I know I mentioned this here yesterday, but please, please, send out your prayers, well wishes or whatever good vibes you can to the people that will be affected by Hurricane Katrina. Even for a weather freak like me, this shit is scary stuff. Of course, I'll be watching before I go to bed to see the latest, but with winds over 160 mph, this storm means business. I just hope that everyone down there can get to somewhere safe. Ok, I've been taking a bunch of shots of the girls over the past few weeks playing. One of the things I'm learning as a budding photographer is to try to catch the little ones in thier element; this supposedly makes a better picture than posed ones. Personally, I have to agree with that, since whenever I try to either Cailyn or Erin to stand still for a shot, it's either impossible because they move or they make stupid faces. Anyway, here's some of the shots I've taken--see what you think: I caught Cailyn as she was climbing up on the playset. Didn't give her enough time to look silly. This picture says a lot about her. A bundle of contradictions: playful, yet serious; young in age, old in soul. No, I didn't put the girls in jail. They kept running back and forth on this grating on the playset, and I thought, "Hmm, could be an interesting shot. Came out looking like a prison photo--but, I think it's still kinda cool. Plus, they thought it was a riot. This is exactly what I'm talking about above. If they know the camera is there, this is what I usually get. Ah, yes, the genteel Rossiter girls. I liked the shadows and light on this one--and I decided to convert it to black and white--made a huge difference!

A Weather Geek's Dream...

As those who are close to me know, I inherited a keen interest in weather from my father. Up until he died, Dad loved to listen to local weather, to keep track of the ever-changing weather in Vermont. When I was a kid, I gave him shit for it. Now, he's passed it on in some evil form of revenge from the after-life. For those of you who live down South, I really hope that Hurricane Katrina doesn't turn out to be as bad as they say. Needless to say, when one of these storms comes a knockin', I love tracking it and seeing its life-cycle. During one of my regular checks of weather.com, I discovered that they now have a blog! Let us have a moment of reverence, please LOL. Yes, I know I'm a freak... Seriously, my thoughts and prayers are with those in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. The closest I've come to a hurricane was twice: the first when I was a kid and a hurricane (I believe it was David in 1979) came through NY and then another one came through and actually reached Vermont when I was a freshman in college. We stood on our balcony and felt the wind and rain whip across campus. Of course, by the time it hit the mountains, it was nothing compared to what it had been when it made landfall originally--still, for Vermont, it was a big deal. Other than my dad's interest, I'd have to say that my border-line obsession with the weather began when I lived in Ohio. I discovered rather quickly that there are storms of an entirely differently breed. Weather changed suddenly in Vermont sometimes, but at least I didn't have to worry about twisters falling out of the sky at less than a moment's notice. Thunder was biblical in volume out there in the flatlands, wall-shaking and cause ya to hide under the bed loud. It took me years back on the East coast to get over my "thunderstormaphobiia". But, the weather monitoring has stuck and now, I actually have friends who will consult me for the updates. Maybe that's a clue that I need to get out a little more. And when I do get around to going out, at least I'll know whether or not I'll need an umbrella!

Everything (ok, not really) that you wanted to know about me...

A blatant rip-off of Sheri's last blog post. Nothing like a little "me-me" to get that self absorption out of the way! Still, these were some of the better questions I've seen in these things: 1. When you look at yourself in the mirror, what's the first thing you look at? It depends on what kind of mirror. If it's a "regular" mirror, it's usually my eyes. They can always reveal how I'm feeling: tired, happy, sassy... If it's a full-length mirror, it's the lower half of my body--which I then turn away from because I hate it!!! 2. How much cash do you have on you right now? Nothing. I'm in my pj's! But, I think I have about a buck fifty in my pants pocket. Jon raided the money earlier to get some fresh veggies down the street. 3. What's a word that rhymes with "TEST"? ingest 4. Favorite plant? Lilac Bushes 5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone? No idea; I rarely check the thing...but, if I had to guess, it would be one of the Athletic Directors from the schools I had to do photo shoots at this past week. 6. What is your main ring tone on your phone? Handel's "Spring" from The Four Seasons. (used to be "The West Wing" theme, until we switched phones and now I can't get it!!! Damn, damn, damn! But, I keep lookin' and prayin'! ha ha ha) 7. What shirt are you wearing? My favorite comfy nightshirt. Light blue, well wash-worn, lavender and blue butterflies. It looks silly but feels great on! 8. Do you "label" yourself? Yes, constantly. 9. Name brand of your shoes currently wearing? Right now, I'm barefoot. But, I just bought a pair of New Balance sneakers (actually, two pairs--big sale at the mall: Buy one get one 50% off. I usually buy cheap-ass sneakers, but Jon finally convinced me to get some decent sneaks). 10. Do you prefer a bright or dark room? Darker is better, if I'm looking to relax. But, if I'm working, it needs to be kinda bright... 11. What did you have for breakfast? A bowl of Honey Combs and some raisin toast. 12. Since question 12 is weirdly missing, make some shit up. Holy crap, I didn't know I'd have to be creative with this? WTF? Ok, My favorite drink is a frozen mudslide (yeah, sissy drink) and I've never been drunk in my life. 13. What were you doing at midnight last night? In bed with a man who's core temperature must be 20 degrees colder than mine---he's cold, I'm hot!! But, at least he was giving me a back rub! 14. What did your last text message you received on your cell phone say? Don't do text messaging on my cell. Shit, I'm still bad at talking and driving sometimes (I know! Bad Marie!) Can you image the damage I'd do trying to type and drive? Come on! 15. Do you ever click on "Pop Ups" or Banners? Nope 16. What's an expression that you say a lot? "Ya think?" (thanks to West Wing, again...) 17. Who told you they loved you last? Cailyn, as I was tucking her into bed. 18. Last furry thing you touched? Hmmmmm........ 19. How many hours a week do you work? Too many to count. I'd get too depressed, even with working from home. 20. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed? Zero. Got me a nice digital camera and haven't looked back. 21. Favorite age you have been so far? I'd have to say 23 for too many things I can't mention in a me-me. 22. Your worst enemy? Myself 23. What is your current desk top picture? Photo I took of a sunset across the street from my house. It was the first picture I took and said, "Hmm, maybe there's something to this photography thing..." 24. What was the last thing you said to someone? "Have you heard from our sitter if she's watching Erin on Sunday?" 25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to go back in time and fix all your mistakes which would you choose? I'd probably say the money, because there's no way I could, or even want to change, all of the mistakes I've made. Without those mistakes, I wouldn't be the person I am today. And, while somedays I think that might not be a bad thing, when I stop to think about it, I have to admit that I'm an interesting person.

That time of the....year

Yes folks, let's get ready to rumble!!!! Are you ready? I've been waiting for months to see this on TV: "They're going back!!!" This is one of my all-time favorite spots! After my TV Savant husband did a little research to find this for me, since I haven't seen it in our neck of the woods on TV, yet, we discovered that this little gem has been around since around 1994!!!! Apparently, Staples has Alice Cooper doing a new ad for them this year, so I may not see my top commercial this year :( Will have to settle for this blub on the net. When this came out in Sept of 94, I was starting my 12-month Masters program in BG. Even though I didn't have kids at the time, I still chuckled at the ad. Now, I have a totally new appreciation for the man gliding down the aisle in back to school bliss (especially since I'm not teaching anymore!!! LOL) So, to all the parents out there, I say, enjoy this most festive season of the year--we've earned it!! ;) I actually have 6 days to go until they go back---but, I'm not counting at all. I mean, come on, I'm not down to ticking off the hours and minutes... Yet....;) Have a good one!

One of those quizzy-things...

All right, All right...I know that's not the most technical of terms, but it's all for fun, right? I usually don't post these things because they're just silly. But, in my brain-break from my latest article, I was playing with these quizzes online and stumbled onto this one. The result nailed me, figuratively speaking, of course. So, go ahead. Give it a try. You know you want to...It's only 30-mindless seconds of your life--that you used up trying to determine how you live your life. How odd is that, huh? LOL

How You Life Your Life

You seem to be straight forward, but you keep a lot inside. You tend to avoid confrontation and stay away from sticky situations. You tend to have one best friend you hang with, as opposed to many aquaintences. You have one big dream in your life, and you never lose sight of it.

How Do You Live Your Life?

Human emotions are complicated things. I think this is especially true regarding women. This is not meant to be sexist or degrading to one gender or the other. Men and women both have challenges when it comes to dealing with feelings. It's just that women have so many triggers that it can be almost impossible to predict what she's feeling at any given time are any of the men that may be reading this jumping for joy at this admission? [remember, this is only my opinion--and I am no expert. There, my disclaimer is done :)] A good example of what I mean happened yesterday: I went to church yesterday to sing with the choir (i'm a regular member, but we usually take summers off). It was a special occasion yesterday: our priest, Father Drew, is moving up to another position after being with our church for five years. Fr. Drew is a relatively young, energetic and amusing guy who took a stodgy parish and actually lightened things up a bit. Granted, I am the youngest on the choir--except during school breaks from college. Still, the church is suffering a huge loss. So, to show our gratitude, the choir performed programs at both AM masses on Sunday. Our accompianist even composed some music for the event--a gift, because that man is extraordinarily talented. As the 8:30 AM Mass started, a feeling of sadness cascaded down upon me. I got to know Fr. Drew pretty well, but I wouldn't say we're close. But, the pending departure, the beautiful music and PMS all combined to make me a sniffling mess. Tears rolled down my cheeks and I wondered what brought this on. Half way through the Mass, it came to me: I'm feeling abandoned and alone. The past month or so has brought a lot of change in my life--most of it being departures. My best friend moved away, family and friends have come to visit and then have left, my husband is working a lot of hours and will be going away again for business travel. I have a number of acquaintances, but haven't made the firm connections that I've discovered I need. I know I'm never truly alone. There are many people in my life that are only a phone call away, but it's not quite the same. Yesterday just felt like the straw that broke the camel's back. People in my life that I figured were constants are taking off in new directions. I'm an incredibly lucky person. I have a job that I love and a beautiful family. So, why the sadness and frustration? I'm sure that future friendships are in the wings--but waiting can be so hard...

Your eyes do not decieve...

Before you think that you've

• gone crazy
• developed a problem with your eyesight
• had too much to drink
• spent too many hours looking at Blogger

Rest assured, none of those are true (wait, I don't know that for sure...) Anyway, I have changed my blog template around a number of times over the past week. There was a point today where I thought I was going to have to start all over again with a new blog and lose all my posts of the past 6 1/2 months.

But, in true geek fashion of mine, I've read through books that I purchased, surfed the net and ran through the template feature on this damn site with trial and error until I got the template design that I want. There are still a few tweaks that I want to fix, but the essence is finally there.

I'm becoming more knowledgeable of webcode than my husband; there really is something wrong with me at times ;).

There is also a name change for the blog, but I'm not sure that I'm keeping it. Jon thinks I'm betraying my "Mythbusters" alliance with the blog title change....but, change can be good.

Night!

Shit Happens....

Better late than never...Sorry for the delay, but I still haven't found a way to make a day last more then 24 hours, even with only sleeping for 40-minute intervals on a given night ;) Thursday was one of those days that make me wonder about people, in general. First, Thursday was the first of two days where I was scheduled to take photos for the paper--it's High School Fall Sports time again, and one of my responsibilities is to take pictures of various teams. The past two years, I've only had one school. This year, though, I was asked to do three schools. My first reaction--big payday! When reality set in, I figured out that this was going to be a scheduling nightmare. I have both girls home with me now until school starts (in 10 days, but who's counting!), so I had two "assistants" with me for my photo assignments. I must say that with all the driving around and appointments, they were excellent. Over the course of the day, I had been stood up a couple of times for shoots. Coaches simply forgot their appointments!! I'm left high and dry with my camera, miles on my car and two kids in the back seat. That was the first frustration of the day. I tried to remain calm and cool, though--keeping in mind that things happen... After going back and forth from 9am to 4pm, this thinking started to wear thin. There were a number of down times in between assignments: too short a period to go home, but too long to just sit and wait at the location. Off the girls and I drove in the car to find something to occupy the time. I had a moment of genius when I recalled a playground near one of the high schools. The girls were absolutely thrilled and I was glad that I tossed a book in the car to read. As soon as we stopped, the girls rushed out of the car and raced to the play structure, a large and quite nice one for the area. The girls are squealing with delight, so I wasn't entirely sure that I heard the other lady correctly as she called out to me. "Excuse me. Don't let the girls go down the middle slide. A kid just left her and she shit all over it!" I thought I was hearing things. "What?" "Yeah, a mom just let her kid shit on the slide. Kid sat in it and slid all the way down. There's big stripes, see?" I didn't want to see. But, a mixture of disbelief and disgusting curiosity compelled me to to step over to the slide. Sure enough, the blue slide had an unappealing brown tinge to it. Oh....My.....God... What does one say in a situation like this? I glance sideways at the woman, whose daughter just kept right on going down the middle slide. "Um, thanks for the warning." I turn on my heel and scream. "GIRLS, DON'T YOU DARE GO NEAR THAT SLIDE!" We were only there for about 25 minutes and then we were off to another appointment. We're not in the car for 2 minutes and suddenly, I catch a slight whiff....no no no no no no... "Did one of you go down the slide that I told you to stay away from?" I snapped. Cailyn quickly claimed innocence and Erin followed suit. Like some mother dog, I sniffed around toward the back seat. Then, I managed to lift them out of their booster seats to see if either of them had an...um...evidence on their backsides. Nope. The only thing I could figure was that one of them stepped in some of it. It's bad enough to step in dog poop, but people poop--well, there are some things that moms shouldn't have to prepare for when going to the playground. I understand about accidents. Hell, they happen. But, the mother sat in the car, about 100 feet away, while the kid played, and shit upon, the playground. Lovely. Somehow, I found wipes in my glove compartment and told the girls to start scrubbing down. Even I did a full wipe down. The girls got thrown in the tub as soon as we got home--adding to a long day. The next day, it's more of the same: more driving and more waiting for the girls. This time, I take them to another playground. Once again, the girls are thrilled to go play. But, mid-run, Erin stops and looks over shoulder at me. "Mommy? Is there poopy on the slide?" They're fast learners at least. After a quick glance, I gave the all clear. I may never look a slide the same way again...

More pics from the budding photographer!

The Great Falls Balloon Festival is this weekend and this is what I woke up to this morning at 6:30!! I sent the pics into the paper and they put them in their gallery. http://www.sunjournal.com/specialsection/balloon05/gallery/index.php I'll post more later about my photography adventures over the past two days...I'll give you a little clue, though...I'm gonna call my post "Shit Happens". Curious, yet?

Rossiter's Relativity Theory of Pediatric Wellness

I think I have found the next subject I'm going to start querying about to major publications in the print media. This one is sure to get me national coverage--medical stories are hot these days. I've formulated my own medical theory about kids. Taking after the proven scientific method, this theory isn't original; rather, an examination of thoughts considered over many years and summarized so well, that someone can just step up and take claim to it. It's my turn in the spotlight everyone. Rossiter's Relatvity Theory of Pediatric Wellness. Sounds all technical and snazzy. The basic concept, though, is very simple: Sick children show increased signs of improving health the closer the proximity to the doctor's office. This theory will probably not be looked upon with favor from the pediatric pharmecuetical companies--after all, it could put them out of business. Why dump a ton of money on Children's Tylenol(tm), Advil(tm), Triaminic(tm) and all that other stuff? Hell, my kids don't even have to be seen by a doctor. I could avoid the co-pays altogether. According to my theory, I simply drive up to the pediatrician's office, walk inside and sit in the waiting area. My kids are cured! Miraculous. I have a long list of documentation to support my theory, but in the interest of time (and your sanity), I will provide only one example to support my case: I drove down to Portland to pick up Mary and her son, Micah, from the airport . Erin's in her booster seat, listening to her Dora the Explorer CD. Typically, this kid talks non-stop. She was practically silent the entire 40-minute trip. "You ok, Erin?" "My tummy hurts." [SIDENOTE:To show my non-biasedness, I will concede that Erin has hypochondriactic tendencies. This is the only kid I know who LIKES going to the doctor and usually has no issue with taking medication. Most times, when she says she has a boo-boo or is "sick", she's messing with us] Something about her today, though, seemed off. Still, other than being quiet, she seemed ok. We got to the airport and waiting for the plane's arrival. "Mommy, my tummy hurts." I patted her head and told her all would be fine. Well, by the time we picked up our friends and got to the car, Erin was pale, crying hysterically, grabbing her stomach and saying, "OW! OW!". WTF? We load her and Micah in the car and the crying doesn't stop. I'm sure my friends are thinking, "This is our welcome to Maine?" Erin starts to hyperventilate slightly at this point. I make a call to the pedicatrician's office. The plan is to take her there on our way back. The closer we get to Auburn, the quieter she becomes. By the 3/4 mark, she's asleep. I decided to let sleeping kids alone and we go home. She's fine for 10 minutes and the crying and clutching starts again. Then, she spikes a fever. After almost 8 years of being a mom (and over 34 years of being the daughter of a nurse), I start to wonder if we're dealing with appendicitis. After giving Erin some Mylanta and some Advil(tm), I make another call. "Bring her in," they said. We left my friends at our house, so I can cart Erin over to the doctor's office. The closer we get, the more color she has, the more animated she becomes. She makes a charming entrance to the office area--smiling, talking, and seeming pretty damn healthy. I'm convinced that one of these days, I'm gonna get arrested for being one of those people who keep claiming their kids is sick, but isn't. The doctor examines Erin as she giggles. I feel somewhat vindicated that he's pressing on her stomach and says he's checking for an inflamed appendix. Also, she has a low grade temp (is it ok for a mom to be relieved that for once, the kid has a temp when I say she does?). The good news: Erin's appendix is just fine. The bad news: She seems to have a mighty big case of gas. Erin gets her sticker and we're on our way home. "Mommy, I was sooooooo good!" she tells me with a beaming expression. All I can do is shake my head. Now, my stomach hurts, and I don't even get a sticker. But, maybe one day, I'll get a Nobel prize or something for my theory. I'm sure there are other parents out there who have stories to support my theory! Back me up on this one, will you?

Old Friends....

In about an hour, Erin and I are heading to Portland Jetport to pick up Mary and Micah--our friends from Ohio. After almost 8 years, we managed to get them out here to visit us in Maine! The timing of their visit couldn't be better, as I'm still smarting some from Heidi's move (ironically to Ohio). Jon and I met Mary as we moved into our apartment in Bowling Green, OH. She lived in the downstairs apartment of this old house in a nice part of town, and were going to be her upstairs neighbors. At the time, she was very pregnant with her son, Micah. Incredibly bright and funnier than hell, this woman was preparing to be a single mother and was proud of it. As a matter of fact, she joked that the apartment Jon and I were moving into upstairs seemed to be fertile ground: she got pregnant while living there, and the couple who lived there before her also welcomed a new bundle of joy. "Don't drink the water," she warned with a smile. About a month or so later, 0n April 7, 1997, Mary had Micah. No more than a month and a half later, I discovered that I was pregnant. Unbelievable. We couldn't have had a better neighbor than Mary. I got to watch a first time mom go through the paces with a newborn. She taught me so much. Exactly 10 months after Micah's birth, on February 7, 1998, Cailyn was born. Mary and I raised our children together, shared frustrations, made each other laugh, and became best friends. Within 6 months of Cailyn's birth, though, Jon and I moved to Maine. I left behind one of the best friends I ever had the pleasure of knowing. We promised each other that we wouldn't lose touch; our friendship would endure. It hasn't been easy. We've only been to Ohio a couple of times, and there was a 6 year gap in between visits. Of course, there's phone calls and emails. Sometimes a few months will pass until either of us can manage to pick up the phone for decent chat. Working and kids makes the time go by too quickly. The last I saw Mary was in May, when I went to visit Jon during his extended trip to Cinci. We drove the 3.5 hours north to see our friend. I was nervous that things would be tense and strained. I learned that time and distance doesn't dull a friendship whatsoever. The moment we saw each other, it was like old times. We only had a few hours at her place, but really pushed the issue of her and Micah visiting us. She's wanted to since we moved, but she had just started going back to school to get her degree. In spite of the fact that she lived on her own and had a young son, she became a respiratory therapist. Mary bought her father's house and is doing a fantastic job! It took a year of saving up time and money, but they are finally coming to Maine! Now, I just have to confiscate her return tickets!!! ;) PS: Thanks to those of you sending your congrats on my new position. It means the world to me! Later gators!

Update: New job!

Well, I was offered the editorial job today. I am now an editor at mommiesmagazine.com. Click on "meet the editor" under the Mommy Fun section...Things are just getting started up, but for the first time, I will have a say in submissions, content, etc. Of course, I need to start drumming up some readers and business, but that's for another day. More details tomorrow. I'm off to work!

Stepping out and pushing forward

When I left teaching more than two years ago, I had no idea I would pursue my dream of writing. I walked away from the classroom because my girls were sick. Between the ear infections, strep throat and other an infant who had reflux, Jon and I made significant contributions to our pediatrician's kids' college funds. I had to make a choice between my students, over 130 of them, or my own kids--really, there was no choice. I loved my students, as much as they drove me nuts, but my own kids are my lifeblood. I just wasn't able to give my all to my own girls. So, I walked away from the career I thought I'd be with forever. The summer before I left teaching, I emailed the editor-in-chief of the Lewiston Sun Journal with a little humor piece I wrote. I didn't really expect to hear back. But, he sent my piece to one of the other editors. Ursula contacted me and asked me if I was willing to write a story for the Living section about kids and weddings. I figured "What the hell?". I wrote the story and they loved it. Ursula said that if I ever left teaching, to let her know. I laughed at her. She must have known something I didn't. About two months after I walked out of the classroom for the last time, I dropped her an email. "Guess What? I left teaching. I'd love to write again for you." Writing was always a secret passion of mine. Even though I was an English major in school, I kept my writings very close to me. They were an outlet to deal with my frustrations, heartbreaks and confusion. Professors would ask me why I didn't pursue writing more seriously; again, I laughed them off. I've been a "writer" for almost three years now. It's a career filled with many highs and lows--mostly lows. It's not for the weak-hearted. Rejection becomes so common, that it stings less each time one of those form letters arrive. Oh, the sting never disappears completely. I've developed a tough skin. Still, there are more days than not where I wonder what the hell I'm doing and who the hell I think I am by claiming to be a writer. Then, a day like yesterday happens. I get word from an editor of a national publication that she loves my idea for a story. My college alumni magazine is interested in having me write some pieces for them. Lastly, an online parenting magazine is set to offer me an editorial position for their publication. Although none of these gigs are set in stone, yet, it is a big step forward for me. I'm finally developing the courage to actually pursue my dream and not just wait for it to happen. I've been furiously revising chapters of the book I've been working on for what seems like forever. I won't make my deadline that I set earlier in the summer, but I'm well on my way to completing it now--which is something I never thought I'd do. I'm learning that the only way that I can advance is by putting myself out there and saying, "Hey, I have something you need...that your readers need." For a girl with shaky self-confidence, that's a giant step. Before I finish this little ramble, I want to take a second and say a huge thank you to my husband, Jon. He keeps me focused and calm (no easy feat!) and encourages me every day. Also, thanks to Heidi for being my biggest cheerleader! Her advice is priceless. Yesterday, my mom told me that she was proud of me for being brave enough to put myself out there and do what I want with my life. Perhaps I'm really on my way...

What's new in Maine?

First, many thanks to those of you who sent your thoughts and compliments regarding my last post. I think that will be a moment that will stay with me for the rest of my life. The past week and a half have buzzed by. Before I left for our VT vacation, I commented that my freelance writing jobs assignments had slowed down considerably. I wasn't complaining, really, because I should be working on the memoir essays that I talked with an agent in NYC about. I've made some progress, though. Anyway, while I was gone, I literally got slammed with new assignments. What's that saying, "be careful what you wish for?" One of my assignments was taking photos for a profile of a local hot air balloonist. Each year here in our town, we have a huge balloon festival. The paper does a whole section on it, and I was asked to contribute three stories and some pictures! Wow! Here's a bit of my work--still working on the camera settings and such, but I have to say that these didn't come out too badly! Walter and Gayle getting the balloon ready to go. It's about 6:30 am. We had to meet at the ass-crack of dawn, but it was worth it! Time for Launch! For such a large object, it floats so smoothly (yeah, I wasn't in the thing, but it looked that way!) On the chase, which was a riot! Driving along backroads, I found places in Auburn I had no idea existed. Beautiful! The clouds broke away about 40 minutes into the balloon's flight. Sometimes I just marvel at the job I have.... Jon says I that I have to get in one of these things now. I've always said, "Never!", but then again, I said that about parasailing, too. Still, I went during my honeymoon. Isn't it amazing what some people with do for love? As for getting in a hot-air balloon, all I can say is that if Walter and his crew are running the show, I'd consider it. They were that fantastic. Now, that would make for some great shots... For those of you who know Heidi from Heidi's Daze, I can tell you that she and her family made it to Ohio fine--although a bit worn out from the long drive and the stresses that come with the move. Their furniture and other stuff got there earlier than expected (only by a day, but, hey, it's better than late!). She's hoping to be back online within the week. I know I miss her, and her blogging buddies will be thrilled to have her back! I have some pics to download for a story I just turned in, so I suppose I'd better go do that. More later, I hope!