Happy days

You know how sometimes in your life it seems that anything that can go wrong in your life DOES go wrong? And you wonder what is the point of this whole crazy thing called life? Yeah, I have had those times.

But sometimes you get these other times. Times where things seem to be so great. So awesome. So totally RIGHT that you are in the middle of making a simple hamburger dinner for your family and you literally stop to take in the awesomeness that is your life. And it isn’t that something amazing and wonderful has just happened, it is just that everything is so, well GOOD. You are so content. You have an amazing husband that gets you and loves you, even when you forget to put the top on the millionth jar for the billionth time, or leave the lights on tonite just like last night and the hundrend nights before that and he has to remind you to go turn it off even when you SWORE you remembered tonite. (you didn’t)  And you love him even if he does wake up with a grumpy face that occasionally scares The Soph or when he tells you not to dilly dally when we are walking somewhere and you can hardly keep up with his crazy long legs and German efficiency. And you have two awesome children that routinely drive you crazy in exact proportion to how much they make you giddy with pride and love. And you have three big, sloppy, drooly, dumb dogs that you plot to get rid of as much as you would be heartbroken to come downstairs one day and NOT see their big dumb goofy grins and waggy tails and clicky nails on the floor that drive you nuts. And you have family that is amazing, and loving and PRESENT in your life.

And all that passes through your mind in a moment of making hamburgers and you smile, walk over to your German husband efficiently entering the days’ receipts into quicken (leaving 3 cabinet doors open when you walk out of the room) and give him a kiss. And he looks up and says, “What was that for, is something wrong?” And you say, “Nothing is wrong. Everything is exactly perfect.”  And it is, for absolutely no reason at all.

Oh poor blog I miss you! But I have a happy story!

So much going on! So much GOOD. Life is good, but man is it going by fast or is it just me? And so much to keep up with! Kids! Husband! Dogs! Job! Career! (funny how those last two things are not related in my mind! Well except in the way that my job pays for my career habit!) On that note, I had just about convinced the hubbie I needed to quit or at least go to part time to pursue my career 100%. He was um, less than thrilled with that idea, although I give him credit for saying I could do it if I felt I really needed to. Which I did. Sort of. Mostly. But then.

Then my agent suggested I consider contacting a developmental editor to help me with my writing. See, my art, she said, is there. It is STRONG it is GOOD. (Well, thank you very much, you make me blush.) But my writing is not quite there, ya know? (And yes I know). See, I have been drawing and painting and doodling since I was 4. Writing? Not so much. I mean I write, I have a blog, I like to rhyme, I make up lots of stories. But I have never taken any formal classes. And children’s book writing? Well, it is often considered one of the hardest forms of writing. So of COURSE that is what I want to do, right? Of course. Try telling a whole story, with about 32 pages of images in just around 100 words or so. It is HARD. And while I have a good start, I am what you would call, a person with potential. In other words, I need work. And polish. And advice. And direction. And so that is what a developmental editor can do for  you.

And so I contacted a woman in NYC whom is a 19 year veteran with Simon and Schuster, that just started her own business to tell her my agent referred me to her. Then I submitted my work to see if she would take me on as a client. And praise baby jeebus she said YES! And I could not be MORE excited! And just this week I sent off my signed contract to Ms. Dryden and soon we will be working together! I AM SO EXCITED! It looked like this, see:

(That’s totally CUTE, right? I know! have I mentioned how modest I am? Cause I TOTALLY am. And humble too.)

And of course, hiring someone like this, someone who knows EXACTLY what they are doing and has been in the industry for NINETEEN years, can charge for her much sought after talent. Why wouldn’t she? And I am fine with that, more than fine with that. And you know WHO ELSE is fine with that? The husband. Because NOW I WANT to STAY at my job so I can pay for this wonderful advice and direction and polishing. And hopefully get published. Ahhhhh…..

Don’t you just love a story that has a happy ending for everyone?? (Except maybe my coworkers. Because they now have to put up with my constant playing of Bon Jovi not to mention my often wildly inappropriate yet humorous anecdotes and comments for an indetermine amount of time. heh.)