Hodgpodge

There can be no doubt that the average man blames much more than he praises. His instinct is to blame. If he is satisfied he says nothing; if he is not, he most illogically kicks up a row. ~Arnold Bennett

I’ve been unsettled by some things I’ve read on blogs targeted at writers and publishers lately. The nature of a blog is that it is one person’s, or a group of persons’, opinions. My grandfather used to say that opinions were like …well, he was known to be a bit crude so let’s just say “noses”…everyone has one and a lot of the time they smell. But everyone is free to have one and make as much of a stink about their opinion as they like.

What is sad is when a group of individuals who are supposed to be articulate cannot find ways to express those opinions without resorting to the lowest common denominator and becoming crass and crude while attacking others in personal ways. We are writers, wordsmiths. We are supposed to be able to create coherent utterances and frame logical arguments. We do not need to get nastily personal or start flinging insults at people because we disagree with them professionally or because we don’t like what they’ve written.

That’s just my own humble opinion.

On the work front:

I discovered that I do get to stay at my school. Enough of the folks with more experience (who would have thought 8 years wasn’t enough to begin with) are leaving that I can stay. That having been said, it won’t be easy. We are dealing with a run-down building, larger class sizes (the state just upped our sizes due to budget constraints), teaching multiple subjects and grade levels. It won’t be easy and our principal has warned us that we won’t be able to complain when he comes to us and tells us we have two, three or even four different subjects/grades next year.



Well, on the mommy front:


Z is now a whopping 9lbs and 4 oz. That’s over two pounds since he was discharged from the hospital so I know we’re feeding him enough. He’s grown and is at 22.5” now.

The bad news from the doctor is that Z has colic and acid reflux. He cried for my SO, he cried for the nurse, he cried for the doctor. When we told the doctor he’ll sometimes cry almost all day with little catnaps, the doctor said, that wasn’t colic. The other questions we’d written down to ask led him to realize Z had acid reflux. He’s given him baby Zantac and said the gas drops and the herbal remedy were right on target only we should be giving him both about six times a day, alternating them in his bottles. I’m not sure yet if it’s helping, the only guarantee seems to be holding him. If Momma is holding him, he’s okay. He sleeps through mass for Momma. The only problem I have is if I put him down.

And he doesn’t cry himself out. He’ll cry nonstop for hours. I’m not kidding or exaggerating.

Samuel 1:27 “For this child I prayed; and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of him:” And despite the minor problems we praise him and thank him for the granting of our petition and the bonus of giving us a healthy and strong child.

He has the cutest little birthmark on his belly in the shape of a heart. This picture isn't a good one of it, but it's a darkened patch of skin. I've outlined just beyond the borders.

I haven’t written a word and it is almost impossible to find time to even blog at the moment. I know the experienced mommies are shaking their heads at me, but yes, it’s my blog and I’ll whine if I want to.

I had a short story that was being considered for an anthology, but they wanted it to be longer. No problem, I can see just where it can be extended. Problem, I’ve got no time to do it. I’m not a person who can write on demand. I have to get in the right frame of mind.



I hope you’ve been checking out Anny Cook, Kelly Marstad, Sandra Cox and Jenny Beans. They always have good things to say.