I just finished the Target Employee Questionaire and am astounded at the questions that the Huge companies ask nowadays. "IF you saw someone stealing, would you report them?" "Do you question loyalty in friends", "Is the color blue something you trust?" Ughhh! I just want a job so that I can buy my kids Christmas presents and go to Nicaragua in January to help really, super-poor kids. But no. I have to go through the indignity of a job application that asks about being convicted of anything or doing time, at the age of 54 to find out if I'm worthy of being a barista at Starbucks.
I did not get accepted at Starbucks. They said they'd call on Halloween day and they didn't. I think because I told them it was a busy day at my house that day, the 2nd interviewer must've given me a bad report. I hate it when I have to tell the truth. If they'd only known what I could potentially offer the drive- through, they would've snatched me up in a second.The Starbucks application took 2 hours out of my life, the interviews took another 2 and they didn't even call me to say "you are too old to work here." As a matter of fact, both interviewers, who were under 25 (i'd bet my life) were late for interviews, asked exactly the same questions off a clipboard and bordered on rude. I could teach them a thing or two about HR but...
What did they want? A future CEO? Or someone who follows rules accordingly?
Onwards - I just finished filling out a Target application and although I don't look great in red shirt and khaki pants, I shall rally if they need me. Kids need Christmas ...
Monday, November 14, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Long Time, No See -- I've been Submitting
I thought I lost this blog forever. It's been a cyber hell over here but I"m back and confident enough to post to see if it sticks. Kinda like cooking spaghetti.
This fall I've been working like a
This fall I've been working like a
Monday, October 31, 2011
Coming Down after the Emerald City Writer's Conference
My head is so full of writing tips and facts on digital publishing that there is little room for anything else today! Wait. Is my daughter home with a fever? Yes, I must keep reminding myself of that fact.
Having just come from the Emerald City Writer's Conference in Bellevue Washington where the GSRWA puts on a three day extravaganza for romance writers, I am overwhelmed with a capital O. My home chapter always puts on a great conference and this year they outdid themselves. The Westin Hotel in Bellevue worked fine for our new venue but I missed the open air Lobby bar and Coffee Shop where we could meet, schmooze and be seen. The Westin has no Tulleys or Starbucks and the bar doesn't open in the Lobby until after 5 so anyone who wanted a place to meet and socialize ended up on the 5 couches off the front desk. Many were found in groups on the floor between conference registration and the first workshop on Thursday. Note to organisers of 2012: More couplings of chairs, tables, couches and a no host bar or coffee area upstairs. If we could re-create the coffee shop or the bar on the 3rd floor - that would be lovely. I loved the tea/coffee table on Sunday outside the Lake Sammamish room. Great idea but again, only a few places to sit and talk near the beverages.
The buzz this weekend was definitely digital publishing, self publishing and branding yourself. In that vein, I was honored to be chosen to present my talk "Channeling Your Inner Rock Star" to a group of attendees who wanted to know more about presenting the most engaging side of you for self-promotion. More about that another day seeing I have an online class on this topic coming up in January.
If I reduced what I learned this weekend to a few sentences I'd have to say that Digital Publishing is the future and if you chose to self publish, you better know what you're doing for editing, formatting, cover, promotion etc because it's alot of technical work and alot of your time. Many publishers now have a digital line and can take more authors because it costs less to epub a book. This is good news to a technically challenged troll, such as myself. I learned that self promotion is all about social media and if you don't have a website, FB account, Twitter account etc. you better get one or be prepared to get left on the dock staring at the back of a sailed ship. Branding is essential for first pubs and I'm now spending every waking minute thinking of how to be more unique than I already am. Only write Hawaiian romances? Specialize in writing about gals named Tina who scuba dive in exotic locations and take on a paranormal ability to change life as they knew it? Branding. Don't miss that boat either. Gotta love that gal with the tiny Steampunk hat perched on top of her head all weekend. After the conference I now have 5 agents and editors to submit to this week and I'm like a racehorse at the gate, waiting to send pages and queries and synopses. I love the submission process, almost more than writing the book. Crazy true.
I arrived home from the ECWC with ideas pressing against the inside of my brain to get out, only to find the best rejection letter ever written in my inbox. Although I hoped Kate Folkers would like my MS, The Dream Jumper, I'm thrilled that she read the full and gave me detailed criticism about what to fix. You can't pay money for something like this, even if I had some. I'm in debt to the woman now and will probably have to mention her name in my acknowledgements, even if she doesn't become my agent. The fantastic news is that I believe everything she mentionned to be an easy fix. She loved the characters, setting, said my writing was fluid. I just didn't tie up loose ends well and need to tighten up the middle. Yippe! I can't wait to get started but now I must go get more Hallween candy for this evening's trick or treaters. I ate the last bunch...
All in all, it was another inspirationally amazing weekend for writers, run smoothly and attended by some of the loveliest ladies in the nation. Even two from Australia! Until next year, TY GSRWA for the ECWC. B4N
Having just come from the Emerald City Writer's Conference in Bellevue Washington where the GSRWA puts on a three day extravaganza for romance writers, I am overwhelmed with a capital O. My home chapter always puts on a great conference and this year they outdid themselves. The Westin Hotel in Bellevue worked fine for our new venue but I missed the open air Lobby bar and Coffee Shop where we could meet, schmooze and be seen. The Westin has no Tulleys or Starbucks and the bar doesn't open in the Lobby until after 5 so anyone who wanted a place to meet and socialize ended up on the 5 couches off the front desk. Many were found in groups on the floor between conference registration and the first workshop on Thursday. Note to organisers of 2012: More couplings of chairs, tables, couches and a no host bar or coffee area upstairs. If we could re-create the coffee shop or the bar on the 3rd floor - that would be lovely. I loved the tea/coffee table on Sunday outside the Lake Sammamish room. Great idea but again, only a few places to sit and talk near the beverages.
The buzz this weekend was definitely digital publishing, self publishing and branding yourself. In that vein, I was honored to be chosen to present my talk "Channeling Your Inner Rock Star" to a group of attendees who wanted to know more about presenting the most engaging side of you for self-promotion. More about that another day seeing I have an online class on this topic coming up in January.
If I reduced what I learned this weekend to a few sentences I'd have to say that Digital Publishing is the future and if you chose to self publish, you better know what you're doing for editing, formatting, cover, promotion etc because it's alot of technical work and alot of your time. Many publishers now have a digital line and can take more authors because it costs less to epub a book. This is good news to a technically challenged troll, such as myself. I learned that self promotion is all about social media and if you don't have a website, FB account, Twitter account etc. you better get one or be prepared to get left on the dock staring at the back of a sailed ship. Branding is essential for first pubs and I'm now spending every waking minute thinking of how to be more unique than I already am. Only write Hawaiian romances? Specialize in writing about gals named Tina who scuba dive in exotic locations and take on a paranormal ability to change life as they knew it? Branding. Don't miss that boat either. Gotta love that gal with the tiny Steampunk hat perched on top of her head all weekend. After the conference I now have 5 agents and editors to submit to this week and I'm like a racehorse at the gate, waiting to send pages and queries and synopses. I love the submission process, almost more than writing the book. Crazy true.
I arrived home from the ECWC with ideas pressing against the inside of my brain to get out, only to find the best rejection letter ever written in my inbox. Although I hoped Kate Folkers would like my MS, The Dream Jumper, I'm thrilled that she read the full and gave me detailed criticism about what to fix. You can't pay money for something like this, even if I had some. I'm in debt to the woman now and will probably have to mention her name in my acknowledgements, even if she doesn't become my agent. The fantastic news is that I believe everything she mentionned to be an easy fix. She loved the characters, setting, said my writing was fluid. I just didn't tie up loose ends well and need to tighten up the middle. Yippe! I can't wait to get started but now I must go get more Hallween candy for this evening's trick or treaters. I ate the last bunch...
All in all, it was another inspirationally amazing weekend for writers, run smoothly and attended by some of the loveliest ladies in the nation. Even two from Australia! Until next year, TY GSRWA for the ECWC. B4N
Monday, May 9, 2011
What Is A 'Teau Mama
If you're confused about what a 'Teau Mama is, I must clarify. Firstly, let me say confused people are my favorite because the pressure of keeping up with you is lessened for me. I appreciate confusion in a friend. Immensely.
Of course we all know what a Mama is. If you are a female parent you are a Mama (which, by the way, must always be capitalized). If you are a mother who lives on the Sammamish plateau, you are a 'Teau Mama.
We are the mothers who shop at the Sammamish Highlands Plaza, who must leave the Plateau to buy shoes, who send our children to some of the best schools in the country. If we can afford it, we have our pedicure done to reward ourselves for enduring this rotten winter weather, we run to the library with the kids, shuttle to sports practises, some of us work beyond the family, we speak Microsoft, we try our darndest to be the best possible version we can be and still devote ourselves to our children first and our mate, second. We take our kids to summer swim in Pine Lake, to the wonderful playgrounds that dot the Plateau, to piano lessons, to Star WArs camp, we drive carefully, serve pancakes for dinner when groceries are low and try to listen to our own music in the car but it's difficult when the kids can't settle on a movie and want to listen to the CD player.
Mothers rock this world and 'Teau Mamas are no different. You know when they say 'the world doesn't revolve around you'? Well it actually does revolve around us. Without us nothing would get done, the whole world, and specifically Sammamish, would cease to exist as we know it, instead turning into some Blade Runner, HALO existence of testosterone and fast food.
Give yourself a pat on the back ladies and next time you look in the mirror don't be hard on yourself. Congratulate yourself that you are a 'Teau Mama and that life does revolve around you but you are gracious enough to make it look like everyone has a hand in making life as sweet as it is. Happy Belated Mother's Day!
Of course we all know what a Mama is. If you are a female parent you are a Mama (which, by the way, must always be capitalized). If you are a mother who lives on the Sammamish plateau, you are a 'Teau Mama.
We are the mothers who shop at the Sammamish Highlands Plaza, who must leave the Plateau to buy shoes, who send our children to some of the best schools in the country. If we can afford it, we have our pedicure done to reward ourselves for enduring this rotten winter weather, we run to the library with the kids, shuttle to sports practises, some of us work beyond the family, we speak Microsoft, we try our darndest to be the best possible version we can be and still devote ourselves to our children first and our mate, second. We take our kids to summer swim in Pine Lake, to the wonderful playgrounds that dot the Plateau, to piano lessons, to Star WArs camp, we drive carefully, serve pancakes for dinner when groceries are low and try to listen to our own music in the car but it's difficult when the kids can't settle on a movie and want to listen to the CD player.
Mothers rock this world and 'Teau Mamas are no different. You know when they say 'the world doesn't revolve around you'? Well it actually does revolve around us. Without us nothing would get done, the whole world, and specifically Sammamish, would cease to exist as we know it, instead turning into some Blade Runner, HALO existence of testosterone and fast food.
Give yourself a pat on the back ladies and next time you look in the mirror don't be hard on yourself. Congratulate yourself that you are a 'Teau Mama and that life does revolve around you but you are gracious enough to make it look like everyone has a hand in making life as sweet as it is. Happy Belated Mother's Day!
Mother's Day Reflections
Saturday afternoon I met a woman in the San Francisco airport who was also flying back to her home in Seattle. This thirty five year old mother of two struck up a conversation with me at our gate, by asking me how I managed to get on an earlier flight to Seattle. I said I was trying to get home to my husband and kids faster than planned because Sunday was not only mother's day but also my birthday and I really wanted to see my family after a weekend with my girlfriends in San Francisco. As we talked I realized that my new friend was not flying towards her kids, she was actually flying farther away and wouldn't be reunited with her 6 and 8 year old until mid June. Her children were with Daddy in Germany where both she and her husband are stationed in the military. She was headed to Seattle for six weeks of work placement. I don't understand military talk but I took this to mean she was sent to Seattle to a job within the army. When she finally returns to Germany in June she has a few short weeks with her husband and then he heads to Afghanistan. He'd just finished a tour in Iraq and was enjoying down time.
This woman was young, sweet and missing her children, but sat there telling me that she is from a military family, who are all in Germany and she'd proud to be a soldier. Like a bump on a log, I listened to her words, heard the dedication between what she said and what she didn't say, and was suddenly was overwhelmed with gratitude that there are people like her in this country. I don't know if I'd ever thought about it before to that degree, but here was a mother who was making daily sacrifices for me to be able to live this life of freedom in America, specifically Sammamish Washington.
Here on the 'Teau, we are sheltered from this, living our priviledged lives far away from military bases, only hearing about our soldiers on the news or from friends, when someone's brother is deployed. At least that's how sheltered I am. I felt ignorant listening to this mother talk about her duty to America. She didn't shed a tear from her misty eyes, smiled through our conversation and was happy that I would see my children that night. I was not returning to the war zone, a work posting, or a childless apartment. I'd been wining and dining with other 'Teau Mamas at Fisherman's Wharf for three days, having pedicures at the Nob Hill Spa and rewarding ourselves for a lousy winter of rain.
I wanted to hug the woman when I left to board the earlier plane, I wanted to say thank you for being in the army, for sacrificing your husband, your time with your children and your comforts to allow us to live the American Dream. Instead I told her I'd enjoyed our conversation, to have a good flight and Happy Mother's Day, even though I knew she would be thousands of miles away from her babies for many more weeks. I wanted to tell her I'm grateful.
This woman was young, sweet and missing her children, but sat there telling me that she is from a military family, who are all in Germany and she'd proud to be a soldier. Like a bump on a log, I listened to her words, heard the dedication between what she said and what she didn't say, and was suddenly was overwhelmed with gratitude that there are people like her in this country. I don't know if I'd ever thought about it before to that degree, but here was a mother who was making daily sacrifices for me to be able to live this life of freedom in America, specifically Sammamish Washington.
Here on the 'Teau, we are sheltered from this, living our priviledged lives far away from military bases, only hearing about our soldiers on the news or from friends, when someone's brother is deployed. At least that's how sheltered I am. I felt ignorant listening to this mother talk about her duty to America. She didn't shed a tear from her misty eyes, smiled through our conversation and was happy that I would see my children that night. I was not returning to the war zone, a work posting, or a childless apartment. I'd been wining and dining with other 'Teau Mamas at Fisherman's Wharf for three days, having pedicures at the Nob Hill Spa and rewarding ourselves for a lousy winter of rain.
I wanted to hug the woman when I left to board the earlier plane, I wanted to say thank you for being in the army, for sacrificing your husband, your time with your children and your comforts to allow us to live the American Dream. Instead I told her I'd enjoyed our conversation, to have a good flight and Happy Mother's Day, even though I knew she would be thousands of miles away from her babies for many more weeks. I wanted to tell her I'm grateful.
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