Shopping With Our Daughter, Karate, and Website Developments

Our kids are showing an interest in karate, and I'm not sure where it is going to go, but it's fun and cute, just the same. I like the idea that they learn some martial arts, for a number of reasons, though it may work out better if I can just teach them some basics before they go full tilt in the class. N might be a little young, but he's such a jock that he might be just fine.

Saturdays are normally the days I jet off and go to the dump and shop for food. I usually try to head out early and beat the crowds and get to the veggie market before the crowds, which means I'm out the door by 8:30AM. Well on this particular day, our daughter wanted to come along. I'm not sure where that one came from, but she was all dressed up with nowhere to go. My first impulse was to say no, stay at home and have fun, but then I realized that she really wanted to go and help me, so how could I say no to that?

I did an about face and the two of us set out to slay the wildebeest. And you know what? It was a lot of fun, she really got into the shopping, pushing a full cart that was heavy and hard to control. We picked out the food together, and she got to make many of the decisions, feeling like the big girl that she is. It's cute seeing your kids trying to act like grownups, it's so endearing. Best of all, she never complained about being too tired or bored, we saw her dentist at the store, as usual.

My wife and I were stewing over the layout of my website, and personally I find the whole thing overwhelming to the point where I don't want to deal with it. I just want to write. I'm hoping that R will help me design the beast because she has a much better eye for these things, not to mention the fact that she's a photographer. A win-win situation, perhaps?

We shall see. Don't want to get mine or anybody else's expectations up on this whole endeavor, but it is fun to think about... sort of.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks t0 Kriss Szkurlatowski and Jay Simmons for the pics.

My Website, Pics, Vacuums, and Writing Gigs

I am inches away from having my own website, and personally have no idea what I'm doing. It's crazy all that you need to know to put up a good website, though I have to confess, I haven't put the time needed into it. I have learned that to be a serious writer, you need a website, so this is something I need to work on. I'm meeting with RR on Tuesday, who happens to be a Web wiz, and we're going to start this process. For all it's worth, I do have a domain name and hosting service. Just no website, but that could change, soon. I worked with my wife yesterday on ideas for my site and found myself completely overwhelmed. I was thinking something simple and functional, but R brought up a whole slew of important points. In sharing with me what she felt was a good website, I realized that there is a lot of work to be done. I hope RR can help. It's daunting but exciting, at the same time, and I do think a good way for R and I to team up and find a gig working together, if we don't kill each other in the process.

As you may have noticed, I started adding pics to my blog. Again, R brought up the point that they make the blog look more interesting, and I have to agree. I didn't do it in the beginning because it just took more time, and I tend to blog in a stream of consciousness manner. In other words, quickly in, quickly out. Putting a pic requires time and thought, but I think it's worth it and it just adds to the challenge.

Two people I know have suggested a possible writing gig for me, and I take that to be a good thing. My friend's wife, JK, and our good friend, CH, both suggested I look into the Vermont Standard, and truth be told, I have sent them a query message and await word from them. Who knows where this will go, but I like the coincidence. A sign, perhaps? When you got nothing, you gotta hold onto something, even if it's just a dream. I've got some small minor gigs with my blogsites, Parenting Squad and Wisebread, and two new ones, Healthcare Hacks and Healthy Theory, but they're not going to pay the rent. Then again, who is?

Just wanted to finish with a word on our new vacuum. Our friend moved back to Japan after living here for six months, and sold us his vacuum. It was a Dyson, and it worked great. Much better than our Hoover, which not only didn't work very well, but made enough noise to wake the dead. The Dyson is an amazing piece of machinery, though I'm struck by how expensive it is. Granted, we bought it used and cheap, but even still, we have the low budget model and it costs about $500. I can't imagine spending that kind of dough on a vacuum. Then again, that's what inspired me to get the Hoover, and it's a piece of you know what. The Dyson is bagless and you can see what you're actually picking up. And our kids are fascinated by it since it looks space age. Oh well, you get what you pay for, as the saying goes.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to Kathryn McCallum for the pic.

Making My Website and the Infamous Query Letter

Just a few quick notes (yeah, right!) on the continuing saga of my glorious freelance career. I finally finished that darn query letter. I had set a goal of getting it done by the new year, so I'm about a month late, which isn't too bad for the likes of me. And best of all, the timing couldn't be better-smack in the middle of a the worst recession ever whereby no publication is hiring anybody.

Also, I've taken the first steps towards creating my website. I haven't a clue as to what to do, but sometimes that is for the best. I know a couple of people who do website design, but they never seem to have the time to help a loser like me.

One last note, we're moving closer to working for our local non-profit that is trying to help kids in Africa. Nice to dedicate some time to something that is bigger than yourself, especially when you need some perspective.

Until the next time, thanks for reading.