Finding My Way Back To The Written Path

I'm beginning to get back on track. I've written and typed about 1/2 of issue 64 of the serial and I have the rest of the week off so perhaps I might succeed with four issues.

I submitted two poems to e-zines this morning and chose two books from the book review list to do book reviews under a pen name. I tried to choose books that I thought I'd like, but my taste in literature is so abnormal, most of the books I like end up on the clearance tables at most bookstores.

I was greeted with more (not only in additional to, but more of) dog puke this morning. I ended up taking her little cage mattress outside and hosing it off with water. I felt bad for getting angry but for HEAVENS SAKE! Enough all ready. This morning I didn't care if it dried at all, but now I hope the sun comes out enough to dry it. Nope, once again, I didn't receive any courtesy call and the even though the bribe jumped to ten dollars, my son wasn't having any part of it.

I have to go to traffic court tomorrow for my citation for a dead registration. I have to be there at 9 am with $150.00 in tow in case the judge makes me pay the darn fine. I hope it doesn't take too long because the kids only have a half day at school tomorrow which means I must be out in time to pick them up from school at 11:45 am. I plan to have my notebook because there will certainly be some unique characters and drama abound. On a good note, I sent away for my Driving Record. Wow, have I been a good girl! Only one instance on my record and that was in September of 1996 and it wasn't my fault.

On the American Bookseller Association, there is a new Idea Exchange Forum, but you have to be a member. What writer wouldn't love to be a "fly on the wall" in there.

I am so out of touch. I had no idea Oprah chose The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck for her newest book club read until I saw mountains of paperbacks in Barnes and Noble with the Oprah "seal" on the cover. Now, I love Oprah, but to run "paperback" (*gasp*) editions of this classic with this tacky red seal on it seems like literary heresy to me. I still have my old dusty hardcover that I purchased from The Pearl S. Buck Birthplace a hundred years ago (just fooling but it does seem like forever). I can remember wrapping my arms around this treasure as if it were worth millions and taking in the fresh ink and paper smell. Oprah's done soooo much for the publishing world and worldwide womens issues, I'll have to let her slide a bit.

Pearl is my inspiration and since we were born in the same hills of Appalachia I consider her a kindred spirit of sorts. She was able to escape the drugery of those hills earlier in life than I did but I knew what I wanted to do with my life the moment I read her work. I sometimes wonder if she ever missed the tranquility of the mountains the way that I do.

Tonight is my son's final school basketball game. He woke up with an upset stomach last night and threw up a couple of bucketfulls before he fell back to sleep (perhaps he caught it from the DOG!). I felt really bad for him this morning as I knew he was still sick, but school rules say that if a player doesn't come to school then he can't play in the game. He went on to class with his butt dragging. I told him to call me if he didn't feel like staying and I'd make something up. I haven't got a call yet.

BK