Happiness

It would be silly for Mom to be a writer if writing didn’t make her happy. So I guess it makes her happy… At least most of the time.

She writes just about every day. When she works, she’s challenged, inspired, enthusiastic, and motivated. Except when she’s disappointed, hopeless, worried, and bummed out. Luckily, that’s not too often. Only when she thinks Print Book #2 and E Book #2 are taking too long to happen. Most of the time, she thinks they’re just around the corner….

My friend Lexi the Schnauzer tagged me to participate in the 8 Photos of Happiness Challenge. Since I am never disappointed, hopeless, worried, or bummed out, I would be able to post 8,000 photos of happiness. ….but I won’t. Here are my 8.

1. New toys from PupJoy.

2. Showing off.

3. People watching.

4. School visits with Mom. And KIDS!

5. Listening to stories at the library.

6. A cool drink of water after a hike.

7. A nice, warm street nap.

8. Bringing smiles to my friends at the Veteran’s Home.

Did I say 8?

8 1/2. I can’t post about happiness without the baby swing at the park.

Here are the rules for the challenge:

Thank your nominator and link them in your post. (Thanks Lexi!)
Link the creator. (Ariel’s little corner of the internet)
Post your 8 photos of happiness. (or 8,000)
The photos can be anything that represents a moment, object, place or feeling that makes you happy.
Pop in a brief description of the photo, why you chose it or let the photos do the talking!
Spread the happiness and tag up to ten other bloggers! (I’m tagging all of my friends – if you want to share some happiness, jump in!)

Rules and Regulations

“Let’s take a walk,” she said. “It’ll be fun,” she said.

*gulp*

“What are you ‘fraid of?” she said.

 

Really?

This week, we had to mail in the annual paperwork for me to be a therapy dog. Mom and I took a walk to the mailbox (and by “walk” I mean she dragged me past the cat on a bike, a ladder, and a couple of garden gnomes who I’m pretty sure were trying to kill me).

Mailing in my information form, shot record, and license is a rule.

If I don’t follow the rules, I can’t do my work at the Veteran’s Home and the library. Following rules is important.

Mom follows rules when she sends in her stories. She was about to enter the MeeGenius Author Challenge,

but by the 99th time she read over the rules to be sure she was doing everything right, she saw that she can’t enter because she is already a MeeGenius published author!

Mom said, “GAH!” and “Whew!” and “That was close.” She changed her plan and instead of entering the contest, she submitted her story to MeeGenius the regular way. So hope is still alive.

Mom also reads the rules 99 times every month when she submits to an agent in her 12×12 Challenge. She says, “The rules are the rules for a reason.” and “I don’t want this person to think I’m an idiot.” and “OMG. You look like an idiot!”

Is there something on my head…?

Inspirational Quote of the Week

Vision is not enough. It must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps, we must step up the stairs.
Vaclav Havel

Mom’s Highlights Contest story is finished resting, and thanks to her Contest Magic classmates giving her tons of help, she revised it –  AGAIN – cutting and adding and switching and tightening and tweaking (not twerking – trust me – nobody wants to see that).

 Yesterday, we went to the mailbox

and Mom unceremoniously dropped it in. She said, “I could work on this thing for the rest of my life.” and “It’s time to stop staring up the steps and step up the stairs.” and “Where do you think you’re going?”

Mom is hoping to win big, but she is also hoping for her cyberclassmates to win big right along with her. She said, “Their stories are amazing.” and “Can I even compete with these people?” and “There’s nothing up there for you.”

Is she talking to me??

Frenzy

Sometimes, when I play with my monkey in a barrel, it puts me into a frenzy. There’s just too much going on! Too much to do. Too many possibilities. Bite the barrel? Tear off the lid? Growl at the talking? Rip the monkey’s face off? Chew his arm till he stops laughing? Shake the whole thing till I’m dizzy? I don’t know what to do first.

Since NewYears, Mom has also been in a frenzy. She’s not biting, tearing, growling, ripping, chewing, or shaking, like me. But she does have a lot going on, a lot to do, and a lot of possibilities. She may have bitten off more than she can chew. I’ve done that occasionally, too…. (And by “occasionally” I mean every day.)

Gah! Why is my mouth so tiny?!

Mom has entered a ton of challenges, and made a bunch of goals for herself this year. She will read 200 picture books in the Goodreads Challenge again,

she joined 12×12 for 2014, which means she needs to write a new first draft in the next few weeks,

she’ll get 30 new ideas when PiBoIdMo starts,

and she will write 30 poems this year.

In between all those jobs (and a bunch of others – if you can believe such a thing), Mom decided to enter the Highlights Annual Fiction Contest this month, AND take Susanna Hill’s Making Contest Magic class this week.

So Mom is learning, mind-writing, registering, paypal-ing, reading, commenting, revising, studying, listing, rhyming, critiquing, and ….do you see what’s missing here??

Snow pea?? Blech! I may have bitten off more than I can chew again.

Rocky, over at my friend Bacon’s blog told me that January 6 was National CuddleUp Day. So I made sure Mom took some time out to celebrate. Actually, I will make sure we celebrate that thing EVERY day!!

Mom Speaks Monday

Well, Cupcake is asleep, so I have a chance to speak. I’ll make it quick, because once she wakes up it’ll be time to play, eat treats, cuddle, and walk around the neighborhood.

I’m entering a contest this week on the web site meegenius.com. The prize? A publishing contract! OK, the book will be published online, but a contract is a contract, so count me in. Once I format the story correctly, tweak a few changes, and upload it, it’ll be time to cross my fingers and hope. There will be voting involved, so stay tuned for that. Winning would be SO exciting! I’ll put the link in the Blogroll, in case any other authors want to compete.

Once when I entered the Highlights Fiction Contest, I lost, but they bought my story anyway.  I love winning, but in that case, losing was good with me. I plan to enter again this year. Winning would be great, but losing and selling the story will be fine and dandy.

Cupcake likes contests, too. Last year she won a calendar contest, and got her funny little face on a Page-a-Day Dog Calendar. Super-cute!

Uh-oh.  I hear little feet ticking around in there.  …And paper rustling!  What’s she into now?! Gotta go!