Holy Crap, people! Where does the time go?
Ten short days ago, I was celebrating my birthday. I haven't blogged since then.
What's my excuse this time?
I've been super busy between my job, CJSTUF, and other assorted tasks.
I also got to make a weekend trip to Roanoke to celebrate my godson Thatcher's first birthday and baptism. I'm a proud god-mama.
Please don't make any surprise visits to my home. I think another hurricane may have hit the house.
I have wanted to write. I have needed to write.
The days have been long and time has been short. I haven't even had time to do much reading lately.
Can anyone relate?
For this week's Follow Friday, I'm going to give you a few things to read. If you're like me, you haven't got a lot of time, so here are some options:
If you have a few minutes:
Read this post from the Brave Girls Club. I found it through a friend on Facebook. It spoke to me. So many times I have wished for a sign to wear around my neck so that people would leave me alone or pay attention to me or just be a little more gentle. If I've learned one thing in the past two or three years, it's that we all carry our shit with us. Some have more. Some have less. It's all relative. It's only easier when others help with the load.
If you have a few more minutes:
Read this post I wrote for Richmond Mom. It is still September and it is still Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. You may not realize this because few people seem to want to talk about it. In a few weeks, it will be October and everyone will be talking about breast cancer. It will be on every tv talk show and news show. Every day. Why doesn't pediatric cancer get the same exposure?
If you need to laugh (because now I've depressed you by talking about grief and sorrow and misery and cancer):
Check out some of the newest posts over at Insert Eyeroll. The other writers on staff are simply hilarious. Here is one piece that I wrote recently for the site. I also wrote this piece about Facebook which I think is even funnier now given all the ruckus everyone is making about the social media site this week.
If you have a few days and you're looking for a new memoir to devour:
Check out Elephant Girl. Here is my Goodreads review.
Elephant Girl: A Human Story by Jane Devin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
It is easy to be skeptical of a self-published memoir. The genre these days is full of people who feel themselves deserving of their "moment in the sun" and looking for any way to tell their story.
This is NOT a good description of Elephant Girl. Jane Devin's memoir is heartbreakingly honest. It is well-written. It is both realistic and unbelieveable all at the same time. I found myself marveling at the strength of this woman in her attempts to follow her dream as a writer even when faced with the everyday obstacles that effect so many: poverty, abuse, misunderstanding, society's need to adhere to particular conventions. As I read about her life experiences, I was constantly surprised as she endured so much in such a short period of time. She captures her story and allows us to see both the creative side of her writing as well as her ability to weave a yarn.
If I were to criticize the story at all it would be to say that in the hands of a keen editor, I think this book would go from wonderful to amazingly fabulous. There were a few times that I got lost in the story with regard to continuum and voice. Sometimes she spoke in the present day reflecting on her life and sometimes she spoke as the child or young adult she was "in the moment" of her story.
Kudos to Jane on the publication of her first book. I wish her much success and look forward to reading more.
Jane truly deserves every possible success. Check out her blog and then check out her book as well.
So that should be enough to keep you busy for the weekend. Me? I have some editing to do on my own memoir. No rest for the weary, I guess.
Ten short days ago, I was celebrating my birthday. I haven't blogged since then.
What's my excuse this time?
I've been super busy between my job, CJSTUF, and other assorted tasks.
 |
| My godson, |
Please don't make any surprise visits to my home. I think another hurricane may have hit the house.
I have wanted to write. I have needed to write.
The days have been long and time has been short. I haven't even had time to do much reading lately.
Can anyone relate?
For this week's Follow Friday, I'm going to give you a few things to read. If you're like me, you haven't got a lot of time, so here are some options:
If you have a few minutes:
Read this post from the Brave Girls Club. I found it through a friend on Facebook. It spoke to me. So many times I have wished for a sign to wear around my neck so that people would leave me alone or pay attention to me or just be a little more gentle. If I've learned one thing in the past two or three years, it's that we all carry our shit with us. Some have more. Some have less. It's all relative. It's only easier when others help with the load.
If you have a few more minutes:
Read this post I wrote for Richmond Mom. It is still September and it is still Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. You may not realize this because few people seem to want to talk about it. In a few weeks, it will be October and everyone will be talking about breast cancer. It will be on every tv talk show and news show. Every day. Why doesn't pediatric cancer get the same exposure?
If you need to laugh (because now I've depressed you by talking about grief and sorrow and misery and cancer):
Check out some of the newest posts over at Insert Eyeroll. The other writers on staff are simply hilarious. Here is one piece that I wrote recently for the site. I also wrote this piece about Facebook which I think is even funnier now given all the ruckus everyone is making about the social media site this week.
If you have a few days and you're looking for a new memoir to devour:
Check out Elephant Girl. Here is my Goodreads review.
Elephant Girl: A Human Story by Jane DevinMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
It is easy to be skeptical of a self-published memoir. The genre these days is full of people who feel themselves deserving of their "moment in the sun" and looking for any way to tell their story.
This is NOT a good description of Elephant Girl. Jane Devin's memoir is heartbreakingly honest. It is well-written. It is both realistic and unbelieveable all at the same time. I found myself marveling at the strength of this woman in her attempts to follow her dream as a writer even when faced with the everyday obstacles that effect so many: poverty, abuse, misunderstanding, society's need to adhere to particular conventions. As I read about her life experiences, I was constantly surprised as she endured so much in such a short period of time. She captures her story and allows us to see both the creative side of her writing as well as her ability to weave a yarn.
If I were to criticize the story at all it would be to say that in the hands of a keen editor, I think this book would go from wonderful to amazingly fabulous. There were a few times that I got lost in the story with regard to continuum and voice. Sometimes she spoke in the present day reflecting on her life and sometimes she spoke as the child or young adult she was "in the moment" of her story.
Kudos to Jane on the publication of her first book. I wish her much success and look forward to reading more.
Jane truly deserves every possible success. Check out her blog and then check out her book as well.
So that should be enough to keep you busy for the weekend. Me? I have some editing to do on my own memoir. No rest for the weary, I guess.