Here it is 4:25am Monday July 26th, 2010. After putting my little girl down for bed at 9pm, I found that I had more than enough things to do writing related to keep me busy until now.
1. Check the blogs first that I'm following for any new author's postings.
2. Checked the comment section on Evil Editor to see if there were any new comments to the query I posted. There was one.
3. Log on'd at Critique Circle to see if my chapter or synopsis received any additional critiques. There was one.
4. Critiqued a few stories, so not to break my cardinal rule of 'tit for tat'.
5. Worked relentlessly on revising my query.
6. Posted my revised query on Evil Editor. (hoping to be tore to shreds again).
7. Edited Chapter 8 a little, according to some critiques based off other chapters.
8. Checked out Phoenix Sullivan blog and added it to my follow list.
10. Created this post (for my own enjoyment, since I have no followers)!
Intersession with my husband at 4:28am when he woke for work. His words to me were, "Really Babe? I mean Really?" He doesn't understand that once you find the time to write, or learn about writing, you have to take advantage of it-even if it means sacrificing sleep!
Well, now I must go to bed. It's exactly 4:30am, and I all I can think about now, is that my little one will be up at 9:30am. Today is her 2nd birthday, and I'm hoping that the five hours of sleep I get will help me maintain somewhat of a happy attitude so that I can show her a good time today. So it's off to bed, so I can play at McDonald's tomorrow and go to the park, and all that other cool stuff (I'm on vacation). I'll be returning (as I'm sure you all guessed) tonight at 9pm once my daughter goes to sleep once again.
Oh, the good news is-I get to start another book I'm working on where I journal day for day my life as the mother of a two year old. Titles I'm considering;
1. The Year of Hell
2. 365 Days of Hell
3. Toddlers Guide to Creating an Insane Mother
4. The Year of Divorce
or
5. Xnax Anyone?
Good night All!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Here Comes the POO!
Everyone's heard the myths about swimming pool chemicals that turn a different color if urine is detected. However, today I learned that you don't need such a chemical for poo! While I'm sitting on my raft in the water, my daughter floats up (with her little pink floaties) and climbs into my float with me. She's sitting there being a great little girl, and then to "My Daily Surprise", I notice that there is brown water floating all around me. It instantly clicks! OH MY GOD, IT'S POO! What can you do? I jump up, and force my daughter to the side of the pool. My husband takes her inside to change her, and comes out and says that's the worse poo ever! He even says that our changing table is no more. Apparently the water mixed in with the poo and diluted it drastically, so it was like pouring out a great big cup of poo water. All I can say is, There's no point in Lil Swimmers! Save your money, they provide nothing by false reassurance, as they do nothing!
Getting Old is a Bitch!
This evening, I learned how old I really am. My sister and her family came over this evening to swim. The guys were all doing flips off the diving board, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I hadn't tried doing flips since the summer before I was pregnant, which was in 2007. So I made a couple attempts, and failed both times miserably, even losing an earring during one attempt. Then I thought I'd stick to what I know best, cartwheels! So I do one cartwheel, and my sister happily points out that my husbands cartwheel off the diving board was better than mine. She said, "Come on you can't let him beat you, you were a cheerleader!" So I agree, no construction rough handed male is going to beat me at a cartwheel. I was a cheerleader! So I climb back up to the diving board. I raise my hands perfectly above my head, point my right foot, and hurl myself onto my hands, throwing my legs up perfectly straight and falling over into the water in an outstanding round off. The only problem was, is that I focused so much on form, I forgot to worry about projecting myself (when your old, you don't multi-task as well). Which means, I didn't end up in front of the diving board, as much as I did right below it and off to the side. So when I hit the water, my feet were perfectly together, and straight. Then to "My Daily Surprise", it happened. I learned how old I was, and that I no longer have an ounce of high school cheerleader left in a single bone in my body. My body proved it by my left foot hitting the slope against the wall, and bending my ankle sideways as far as it would go. I instantly thought it was broken. It would have been better if it was, because then I would have had a reason for acting like such a baby. At least then, I would have been to the ER, got a cast, had great meds, and an awesome pair of crutches that showed the world that I was legitimately injured. As it stands now, I've got a pink bandanna wrapped tightly around my swollen ankle, a zip lock bag of ice on it, I've settled for crawling through the house on my knees in an attempt to keep from walking on it, and I've bribed my two year old with candy to bring me a throw pillow to prop it up on. All I can think is, "Getting Old is a Bitch!"
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Amy's Ten Steps to Teach Anything.
Many people have jobs in which they never learn from. I am not one of those people. While working with individuals with developmental disabilities, I've learned many things that I've incorporated into my own daily life. One of the simplest things that has helped me the most, was realizing that the method in which I help teach my clients new skills, actually works with anyone.
Sooooo, I incorporated it into my daughters process of learning how to use the potty. She's not yet two, and she's doing really great. I believe she will be potty trained before she turns two in July. This is what I've done so far;
1. Introduction to the change I'm seeking. I introduced a potty chair to my daughter at a very young age. At 16 months, I put a potty chair in the bathroom and had her start going to the bathroom with me. I didn't insist that she try to use it or anything, I just made it accessible to her. She then got use to it. She then would sit on it, with her clothes and diapers on. I always explained to her what I was doing, and what the benefits were. (Yes, I know that sounds silly because she was so young, but toddlers are very smart.)
2.Progression into the desired learned behavior. I started taking her diaper off, and had her sit on the potty. I didn't expect anything from her at this time, she was in control.
3. Take advantage of a presenting opportunity to teach. On Christmas Eve, (she was 17 months old) we woke up early, and she still had a dry diaper. I took her into the bathroom with me, and had her sit on the potty. Low and behold, she went pee pee in the potty.
4.We learn through fun. Make pee peeing in the potty a big deal. Which basically means, I danced, I acted stupid, I cheered for her.
5. Positive reinforcement for therapeutic behavior. Which basically means the next time she pee pee'd, I was prepared. I gave her a Hershey kiss, and she loved it. Tip: Only give her the reward if she pee pee's (even if she cries). If you reward her when she doesn't pee pee, then you are rewarding non-therapeutic behavior. You just taught her that she gets candy for doing nothing, so then you will never get pee pee in the potty.
6. Consistency. Individuals learn best with consistency and reminders. I prompted her to go to the bathroom every two hours.
7. Help them help themselves. Sure she can pee pee when I take her every two hours, but mommy will not always be there to take her every two hours, and not everyone will be as good as mommy. So teach them a way to help themselves. My little one now grabs at her diapers and/or pull up when she wants to tell others it's time to go potty.
8. Acknowledge growth and/or accomplishment. Once she was pee pee'ing in the potty consistently, we needed another type of reward. Once I was giving her Hershey kisses in the morning before breakfast and before she brushed her teeth, I knew I needed something else. So I bought pink pull ups (which we call panties). This helped to recognize the growth she's making, and encourage her to continue. She's getting a reward for therapeutic behavior, which is called positive reinforcements. She loves it, and at times actually demands a pull up over a diaper (like when we go to sleep.)
I've also recently added another mile stone in the pee pee accomplishment process. I've started allowing her to flush the toilet once I empty her potty chair. She loves this as well. She waves bye bye to the pee pee and tissue. :)
9. Reasonable Expectations. We all get excited when someone is learning a new skill. Just remember, that they are learning the skill because they realize the skill is beneficial to them. So once she knows that she has more benefits in life by using the potty, such as swimming without lil swimmers, wearing big girl panties, sleeping at a friends house,or going to head start, she will become more independent in the skill she has learned. Until that time, let them progress at their own pace. You can't force a realization on someone. You can help them see and/or learn the benefits, but you can't make them understand it.
10. Skill Stabilization. Learning is the easy part, it's maintaining a skill that is difficult. Sometimes it's easy for the teacher to forget that. So always remember to help your little one remember the skills you've helped them to learn by doing memory checks. This could be as simple as asking, "What do we do when we have to go potty?" Then hopefully, she will grab at her diaper and/or run to the potty.
There you go, there are my ten steps to teach anything. I know many of you won't care about pee pee'ing in the potty, but these same methods can be used in every aspect of life. There is only one necessary skill required from the individual who is trying to teach the skill though:
PATIENCE!
Good Luck!
Sooooo, I incorporated it into my daughters process of learning how to use the potty. She's not yet two, and she's doing really great. I believe she will be potty trained before she turns two in July. This is what I've done so far;
1. Introduction to the change I'm seeking. I introduced a potty chair to my daughter at a very young age. At 16 months, I put a potty chair in the bathroom and had her start going to the bathroom with me. I didn't insist that she try to use it or anything, I just made it accessible to her. She then got use to it. She then would sit on it, with her clothes and diapers on. I always explained to her what I was doing, and what the benefits were. (Yes, I know that sounds silly because she was so young, but toddlers are very smart.)
2.Progression into the desired learned behavior. I started taking her diaper off, and had her sit on the potty. I didn't expect anything from her at this time, she was in control.
3. Take advantage of a presenting opportunity to teach. On Christmas Eve, (she was 17 months old) we woke up early, and she still had a dry diaper. I took her into the bathroom with me, and had her sit on the potty. Low and behold, she went pee pee in the potty.
4.We learn through fun. Make pee peeing in the potty a big deal. Which basically means, I danced, I acted stupid, I cheered for her.
5. Positive reinforcement for therapeutic behavior. Which basically means the next time she pee pee'd, I was prepared. I gave her a Hershey kiss, and she loved it. Tip: Only give her the reward if she pee pee's (even if she cries). If you reward her when she doesn't pee pee, then you are rewarding non-therapeutic behavior. You just taught her that she gets candy for doing nothing, so then you will never get pee pee in the potty.
6. Consistency. Individuals learn best with consistency and reminders. I prompted her to go to the bathroom every two hours.
7. Help them help themselves. Sure she can pee pee when I take her every two hours, but mommy will not always be there to take her every two hours, and not everyone will be as good as mommy. So teach them a way to help themselves. My little one now grabs at her diapers and/or pull up when she wants to tell others it's time to go potty.
8. Acknowledge growth and/or accomplishment. Once she was pee pee'ing in the potty consistently, we needed another type of reward. Once I was giving her Hershey kisses in the morning before breakfast and before she brushed her teeth, I knew I needed something else. So I bought pink pull ups (which we call panties). This helped to recognize the growth she's making, and encourage her to continue. She's getting a reward for therapeutic behavior, which is called positive reinforcements. She loves it, and at times actually demands a pull up over a diaper (like when we go to sleep.)
I've also recently added another mile stone in the pee pee accomplishment process. I've started allowing her to flush the toilet once I empty her potty chair. She loves this as well. She waves bye bye to the pee pee and tissue. :)
9. Reasonable Expectations. We all get excited when someone is learning a new skill. Just remember, that they are learning the skill because they realize the skill is beneficial to them. So once she knows that she has more benefits in life by using the potty, such as swimming without lil swimmers, wearing big girl panties, sleeping at a friends house,or going to head start, she will become more independent in the skill she has learned. Until that time, let them progress at their own pace. You can't force a realization on someone. You can help them see and/or learn the benefits, but you can't make them understand it.
10. Skill Stabilization. Learning is the easy part, it's maintaining a skill that is difficult. Sometimes it's easy for the teacher to forget that. So always remember to help your little one remember the skills you've helped them to learn by doing memory checks. This could be as simple as asking, "What do we do when we have to go potty?" Then hopefully, she will grab at her diaper and/or run to the potty.
There you go, there are my ten steps to teach anything. I know many of you won't care about pee pee'ing in the potty, but these same methods can be used in every aspect of life. There is only one necessary skill required from the individual who is trying to teach the skill though:
PATIENCE!
Good Luck!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Great Writing Resource
I stumbled across a wonderful writing resource that I can't get enough of. It's called Critique Circle. You can actually post your writing and other writers can critique it. Every time you critique another writer, you earn points. Then you spend those points by posting your own writing. I love it. I actually found someone who writes in the same genre, and were reading and critiquing for each other. I would gladly suggest this site to anyone. They also have forums where you can post your query letters, and get feedback on them. Another great perk, is that some of the members actually work in the publishing business. Happy Writing!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Ask a stupid question, get the obvious answer!
As mentioned in my profile, I work with individuals with developmental disabilities. Now I typically have control over my reactions, because I'm always foreseeing what an individuals next move might be. You never want to be taken off guard because you might say or do something you'll regret.
However, you can't always know what they will do or say at any given moment; thus the reason I've been hit, flashed, cursed, chased with a wheelchair, hit with a bat-mobile, and much more. So you're always on guard, and contemplating their next move in an attempt to be better prepared for anything they might say or do.
Rewardingly; I did not do a good job of foreseeing on Wednesday.
One of the young ladies that we serve was in our office. She was listening to some music on the computer with another young lady, and she was having a great time. She was singing, dancing, and really proud of herself for a reason unbeknownst to me as of yet.
As I was walking by her she looked at me and said, "I know who sings this."
I was pretty excited for her, because she was undoubtedly happy with herself for knowing. So I looked at her and said, "You do? That's great. So who sings it?"
She laughed with her entire face and said, "The people that sing it."
Typically I would not have laughed at what she said, because I wouldn't want to hurt her feelings. She wasn't trying to be funny, she was answering the question truthfully. However, I was sooooo not expecting that answer. I assumed she might either get the band correct, tell me the wrong band, or even say that she forgot. So when she said the most obvious clear cut answer, I couldn't help but bust up laughing. I even had to go into the other office and tell my two co-workers. It was so funny.
It just went to show me that we all look at this world differently. I mean amazingly, she wasn't wrong. It was the simplest of answers, but sometimes that's all you need.
However, you can't always know what they will do or say at any given moment; thus the reason I've been hit, flashed, cursed, chased with a wheelchair, hit with a bat-mobile, and much more. So you're always on guard, and contemplating their next move in an attempt to be better prepared for anything they might say or do.
Rewardingly; I did not do a good job of foreseeing on Wednesday.
One of the young ladies that we serve was in our office. She was listening to some music on the computer with another young lady, and she was having a great time. She was singing, dancing, and really proud of herself for a reason unbeknownst to me as of yet.
As I was walking by her she looked at me and said, "I know who sings this."
I was pretty excited for her, because she was undoubtedly happy with herself for knowing. So I looked at her and said, "You do? That's great. So who sings it?"
She laughed with her entire face and said, "The people that sing it."
Typically I would not have laughed at what she said, because I wouldn't want to hurt her feelings. She wasn't trying to be funny, she was answering the question truthfully. However, I was sooooo not expecting that answer. I assumed she might either get the band correct, tell me the wrong band, or even say that she forgot. So when she said the most obvious clear cut answer, I couldn't help but bust up laughing. I even had to go into the other office and tell my two co-workers. It was so funny.
It just went to show me that we all look at this world differently. I mean amazingly, she wasn't wrong. It was the simplest of answers, but sometimes that's all you need.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Did You Ever?
I have now caught myself via three different methods, talking about someone, and that person ends up hearing or seeing what I'm saying.
#1. Have you ever hung up the phone at work, and start talking to your co-worker about the situation you were just discussing on the phone? Then to your "daily surprise", you start to hear that annoying dial tone and realize that you didn't hang the phone up? All you can do is wonder, "how much did they hear?" HAHA, Yes, I've done that.
#2. Have you ever butt dialed someone on your cell phone, and happen to be talking about that person? Yes, I've done that.
#3. Have you ever sent a text message, and talk about the person who you just accidentally sent the text to? Yes, I've done that. I actually just did that tonight. I had to go back and read my message again just to make sure I was nice, haha.
I've been pretty lucky, and in all three scenerios I was talking good about them or just boring work related stuff. So I haven't been in much hot water yet (that's a big yet). Although I do have a co-worker that hit "reply to all", instead of just "reply" once. Let's say, they were not as fortunate as me in their mistake.
So my advice to you; Think twice before you talk bad about someone, you never know who's listening.
#1. Have you ever hung up the phone at work, and start talking to your co-worker about the situation you were just discussing on the phone? Then to your "daily surprise", you start to hear that annoying dial tone and realize that you didn't hang the phone up? All you can do is wonder, "how much did they hear?" HAHA, Yes, I've done that.
#2. Have you ever butt dialed someone on your cell phone, and happen to be talking about that person? Yes, I've done that.
#3. Have you ever sent a text message, and talk about the person who you just accidentally sent the text to? Yes, I've done that. I actually just did that tonight. I had to go back and read my message again just to make sure I was nice, haha.
I've been pretty lucky, and in all three scenerios I was talking good about them or just boring work related stuff. So I haven't been in much hot water yet (that's a big yet). Although I do have a co-worker that hit "reply to all", instead of just "reply" once. Let's say, they were not as fortunate as me in their mistake.
So my advice to you; Think twice before you talk bad about someone, you never know who's listening.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
M'm M'm, Good!
Again, another great issue with my daughter. She's 22 months, and she's taken well to using the potty already. So I put her on the potty this morning, and she went pee pee. Yea! I always make a big deal of it, and give her a little treat afterwards. She stood up to look at it, and we both pointed, clapped, and cheered.(If you haven't had kids, you won't understand.)
Then to "My Daily Surprise", she reaches down and puts her hand in the potty and splashes the pee everywhere. If that wasn't bad enough; before I could grab her hand, she pulls her hand up and puts it in her mouth.
Ok, so I'm totally grossed out by this point, but still haven't reached the best part yet. It was what she did afterwards, that totally grossed me out and made me laugh harder than I had in a while.
She turned to look at me and said, "Mmmmm!"
Oh, geez! Being a mom sure does have it's ups and downs, and I learn something new everyday. I just never thought that one of those things I would learn would be that my daughter prefers pee pee over carrots.
Then to "My Daily Surprise", she reaches down and puts her hand in the potty and splashes the pee everywhere. If that wasn't bad enough; before I could grab her hand, she pulls her hand up and puts it in her mouth.
Ok, so I'm totally grossed out by this point, but still haven't reached the best part yet. It was what she did afterwards, that totally grossed me out and made me laugh harder than I had in a while.
She turned to look at me and said, "Mmmmm!"
Oh, geez! Being a mom sure does have it's ups and downs, and I learn something new everyday. I just never thought that one of those things I would learn would be that my daughter prefers pee pee over carrots.
Knock Knock, Who's There?
My 22 month old daughter got to have friends over yesterday. I took them outside and they played in a small pool and a sand box. There were mud pies everywhere. Afterwards, we hosed them off and the other children went home. I took my daughter inside, and asked my husband to watch her while I picked up the chairs. When I came back in, my husband met me at the child gate to talk to me. When I looked behind him and asked where our daughter was, he said she must have went back to her bedroom. So we started walking in that direction, still discussing the afternoon events. Then to "My Daily Surprise", when I walked by the front door our daugther was standing on the wrong side of the glass storm door smiling and knocking. It took me a second to process what was going on, and I had to do a double take. Then it sunk in, and I was like "Oh my God!" Of course it goes without saying, I completely blamed my husband for not making sure the door latched when he shut it. He swears he didn't go out the door, but he's a man; we all know he did. She couldn't have been out there for more than 30 seconds or so, but it was a big deal to me (we can all think about the possible ways this could have ended badly). So I took the opportunity to tell my daughter why she can never go outside without mommy. I can only hope she understands. I'm sure you can guess how the rest of our day went. Definitely not to my husbands daily surprise, he suffered my angry wrath throughout the day!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Five Pages From Hell
So I recently finished my first Novel. It's pretty great if I do say so myself (I have to say that, it's my novel).
The next step; learning how the entire process of publishing worked (Geez, don't get me started). After an ungodly amount of research, I thought I had it down. My query letter seemed to be working ok as far as I could tell. I had received two responses already; one was a form rejection, but the other wanted to see a proposal. So I had a 50% success rate at this point {(as far as I'm concerned anyway :) }. Go Me!
Here is where it starts to sucks. So an agent liked my query, and asked to see my first five pages. I'm thinking, "GREAT!" So I sent the pages, and not a day later she denies me. She basically told me she wasn't as impressed with the first five pages as she had hoped.
So I'm thinking, "First five pages? What? How can you tell if you like a book based on the first five pages?" So I google, "first five pages of a novel". Then to "My Daily Surprise", it turns out it's some sort of agent epidemic. Who would have thought? Apparently the consensus is, you will know everything about the book in those five pages. Also, your first line has to be a 'hook'. Hmmm, I thought the plot and the story was the hook.
So, I look at my first chapter (mind you, it's the third version of this chapter), and I come to the conclusion that my first five pages, well you know; Suck! So I revamped them, and moved one of my other lines to the very front in an attempt to create myself a great hook line (well at least insightful, you know the kind that makes you think). I don't know if it will keep the reader wanting more, but I like it. So here it goes, tell me if you like the line. (Oh, if it's super great, just remember it's Copyrighted. If it sucks, forget I said anything, haha.)
"‘You can not awaken love against its wishes; it is love that will awaken you against yours."
So there you go agents. There is my great first liner. My first five pages have been re-vamped, and I'm ready for the next request of additional materials. You know, this if my fourth version of Chapter one. What ever happened to the third times a charm? Oh well, I'm making my own saying (it's worthy of Shakespeare if I do say so myself-haha) .
"If the first five suck; you'll have no luck!"
The next step; learning how the entire process of publishing worked (Geez, don't get me started). After an ungodly amount of research, I thought I had it down. My query letter seemed to be working ok as far as I could tell. I had received two responses already; one was a form rejection, but the other wanted to see a proposal. So I had a 50% success rate at this point {(as far as I'm concerned anyway :) }. Go Me!
Here is where it starts to sucks. So an agent liked my query, and asked to see my first five pages. I'm thinking, "GREAT!" So I sent the pages, and not a day later she denies me. She basically told me she wasn't as impressed with the first five pages as she had hoped.
So I'm thinking, "First five pages? What? How can you tell if you like a book based on the first five pages?" So I google, "first five pages of a novel". Then to "My Daily Surprise", it turns out it's some sort of agent epidemic. Who would have thought? Apparently the consensus is, you will know everything about the book in those five pages. Also, your first line has to be a 'hook'. Hmmm, I thought the plot and the story was the hook.
So, I look at my first chapter (mind you, it's the third version of this chapter), and I come to the conclusion that my first five pages, well you know; Suck! So I revamped them, and moved one of my other lines to the very front in an attempt to create myself a great hook line (well at least insightful, you know the kind that makes you think). I don't know if it will keep the reader wanting more, but I like it. So here it goes, tell me if you like the line. (Oh, if it's super great, just remember it's Copyrighted. If it sucks, forget I said anything, haha.)
"‘You can not awaken love against its wishes; it is love that will awaken you against yours."
So there you go agents. There is my great first liner. My first five pages have been re-vamped, and I'm ready for the next request of additional materials. You know, this if my fourth version of Chapter one. What ever happened to the third times a charm? Oh well, I'm making my own saying (it's worthy of Shakespeare if I do say so myself-haha) .
"If the first five suck; you'll have no luck!"
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