MWLM Blog

Book Clubs

Poetry magazine will send out free magazines to celebrate National Poetry Month (April).  Here are the details for anyone who believes her book club would be interested.

Celebrate National Poetry Month

You supply the readers, we'll supply the poems!

A limited number of free copies of the April 2008 Translation Issue of Poetry will be given to discussion groups that request them by Feb. 20. You'll be able to consider the thought provoking commentary and poems—or simply read them aloud. All we ask in return is that you send us a brief account of your discussion.

Requests for free issues must be received by Feb. 20. Include your name, the number of copies you need, and a street address for shipping. (PO boxes will not be accepted.) Only one address per reading group please. Due to the cost of shipping and handling, each group is limited to ten free copies. Additional copies are available for $1.75. Issues will ship late-March.

Send requests to readinggroup@poetrymagazine.org or:

Poetry Reading Group
444 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1850
Chicago, Illinois 60611-4034

Veronica Hosking
Poetry Editor

Read Across America Day

Save the Date: NEA's Read Across America Day Is March 3, 2008!

Read Across America Day is just a couple months away so don't delay because from Seussville to Who-ville and Oh, those many places in between, the Cat in the Hat will help put reading on the map! 

Sponsored by the National Education Association, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. and more than 50 national partnering organizations, this year's Read Across America celebrations are expected to attract more than 45 million readers in nearly every home, school, and community. Here's a small sampling of the celebrations to come from coast-to-coast:

* Super Bowl Read-Ins. Kicking off Read Across America season, NFL players will trade in their football helmets for reading hats and huddle with local schoolchildren in Phoenix, host city of Super Bowl XLII, on Wednesday, January 30.

* Cat-a-Van Tours. Revving up their engines, three Cat-a-Vans will hit the road to bring the gift of reading to public schools in need. The tours will kick off their multi-state legs in Atlanta, Chicago and Dallas on February 29, in signature Seuss style. Covering more than 1,200 miles, the Cat-a-Vans will tour throughout Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin from March 3 through March 7. The Cat-a-Vans will provide an estimated 12,000 books and thousands of dollars in cash grants to public schools and their libraries through a generous donation from NEA's Books Across America. 

* Read Across Capitol Hill. From a national proclamation announcing March 3 as National Read Across America Day to members of Congress hosting read-ins in their hometown districts, elected officials will get in on the Seuss excitement.

* Read Across Spring Training. Major league baseball players will show they got game when Cat-a-Vans travel throughout Florida in early March for "Read Across Spring Training,” designed to bring reading fun to ballparks for local children by hosting special read-ins.

More events and information are available online at www.nea.org/readacross. Please mark NEA's Read Across America Day on your calendar because, "You're never too old, too wacky, too wild to pick up a book and read with a child!” 

# # #

The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.

For more information, contact Staci Maiers, NEA Public Relations, (202) 822-7823, smaiers@nea.org

~Sue Donckels, Managing Editor for Mom Writer’s Literary Magazine

A Writer's Conference In My Hometown

Printer Out of Ink. Ink Cartridge Out of Stock. Press Enter to Align Cartridges. Press Enter to Align Cartridges (I did though, I did that already.) What plastic mechanism from my aging printer breaks? "I haven't received your first ten pages, please bring your manuscript to our office in order to keep your advanced reading appointment with the Editor you selected."

A determined writer will overcome.

This past weekend I attended the San Diego State University Writer's Conference. I can't get over how lucky I am, I live ten minutes from SDSU, and the conference was held at a hotel a fifteen minute drive away (where I used to work in Catering, ironically, and developed some material for my first book.) It was my second time at said conference, where I met people who had flown in from Paris, France, among other places, to attend.

France.

Saturday and Sunday were filled with breakout sessions - published authors, writing instructors, publishers, successful freelancers, agents, editors. If I could have split myself into six people, I would have. Many times I stood in the hallway between meeting rooms wondering which direction to go in. I let my instinct guide me.

I listened to people tell me how to write and sell magazine articles. I hoped certain sessions would never end; when I was listening to the genius of Bob Mayer or the entertaining Frank Catalano. I quaked in my seat a little as I heard literary agents inform the standing room only crowd what they want - and don't want - in queries and submissions. I clutched every handout to my chest like it was the Holy Grail of My Writing Future. I was educated as to what the strike is all about ("well, you know, we're all doing what we can...").

I placed Mom Writer's Literary Magazines on the "informational table" and in a few other spots, and I spotted conference attendees reading them. One conference lecturer let me know she had queried us. I saw the essays, profiles, reviews, interviews and poetry reaching people, I actually got to see that. It was like taking off, and the rest of the weekend I stayed at a very pleasant cruising altitude.

But after the conference was over Sunday afternoon, and I returned home to the reality of "What's for dinner?" and "The baby needs to be changed," I was still riding on the creative energy I absorbed at the conference.  Three days later, I am still infused with that energy. It would behoove me to attend a conference or breakout session on a regular basis; when I have block, when I am discouraged, when my printer folds, when my laptop dies, when I am interrupted, when I want to sleep instead of work.

A determined writer will overcome.

To begin with, though, for something to do on a daily basis like brushing my teeth, I am simply going to take the advice (the common denominator within all the speeches) of every keynote speaker, agent, lecturer, author, editor and publisher, who all said in one way or another, this past weekend:

Write what you are passionate about. Do not try and follow, keep up with, or predict the market or industry. Write the story you just have to tell. And the rest will follow.

~ Samantha Gianulis

Project Linus

Every day people try to find their purpose in life. Karen Loucks found her purpose after reading an article published on Christmas Eve in 1995 in Parade magazine. The story featured a little girl named Laura who was going through intensive chemotherapy. She said that her security blanket helped her get through the treatments. Loucks made homemade security blankets for every child in Denver's Rocky Mountain Children's Cancer Center, and began Project Linus.

Today, there are over 400 Project Linus chapters in the U.S.with at least one chapter in each state.  As of April 2007, more than 2 million blankets have become gifts for children.

            The only requirements include that the Project Linus blankets must be new, handmade, and washable. Each blanket reflects the personal touch of the volunteer. Blankets have been sewn, knitted, crocheted, quilted or tied.

            And there are several ways to involve young children. One way is to have a child select bright colored fleece material at a fabric store.  There are colorful solids as well as patterns with movie themes, sports teams and cartoon characters. 

       My daughters and I go to the store together to pick out material---there are so many to choose from---Winnie the Pooh, Cars, John Deere, Ballerina and many more.

            With a sharp pair of scissors, an adult can precut the fringe. Then children, as young as four or five years old, can help tie a knot in the fringe with adult supervision.

           For more information about this program and how to make your own quilts, visit www.ProjectLinus.org. 

       It is so easy to do this with your children and show them that they are able to help others.

Kathy Schlaeger enjoys making blankets for Project Linus near Cincinnati, Ohio.

Out with the Boys

I had a wonderful day yesterday.  My husband was taking my son to the Montreal Auto Show, and I decided to tag along.  It was so nice to spend an entire afternoon alone with my boys; to see the twinkle in their eyes as they looked at all those cars! For me, a car is a mode of transportation.  It gets me from point A to point B in comfort and safety.  For boys, a car is so much more...

We started on the top floor.  The display was entitled "7th Heaven" and consisted of all the cars that we couldn't sit in or even touch: Lotuses, Ferraris, Maserattis, Lamborginis... My husband took dozens of pictures from all possible angles.  My son asked questions on price and craftsmanship.  I just watched and enjoyed.  When a car costs more that my house, it's way out of my league!

The next display consisted of all terrain vehicles.  My son got to climb onto 3-wheel motorcycles, snowmobiles, 4-wheelers - he was all smiles.  Then we got to displays for regular cars, more affordable cars.  They had cars from every make: Ford, Toyota, Mazda, Subaru, Honda, GM... you name it, they had it!  It was a beautiful sight, I must admit.  All the cars were sparkling clean and most were unlocked and available to try sitting in and explore. 

My minivan is as 11 years old, as old as Nicholas, and although he gets better and stronger with age, my car has seen much better days.  I've been contemplating replacing it by a cross-over, and it was great to be able to see all of the different vehicles available.  We spent about 5 hours walking around and checking out cars; the time just flew by.  Rudy and I checked out the driver/passenger area and Nicholas climbed into the back seats, testing out how easy it was to climb in and out, how much leg room there was in all the spots, how well we could see the DVD display (he is hoping we pick that option!).  We all checked out the cargo space and whether or not rooftop racks were available.  We took lots of notes and came out of there with a much better idea of which car we might want to get in the spring. 

We left from there around 6:30 and drove back home, picking up take-out on the way to share with our girls at home (there was no way I was going to cook dinner at 7:00 after spending the last several hours walking - I was pooped!).

It was a great day out with the boys!

Lucie Bouchard Antoniazzi, Regular Columnist, All in a Mom-day's Work, works from home as a training material manager and developer for a Montreal-based engineering firm.  Find out more at www.luciebouchardantoniazzi.com

Clarification

I’m not sure how many blog readers go through posts and read the comments, too, beyond the writers and their peers. In light of this question, I want to add a note to the Extreme Community blog. A commenter pointed out that the builder, Atreus Homes, donated all the materials required to make the “Extreme Makeover” show work. Obviously, the credit highlighted in the media aimed toward ABC and Ty, but the volunteers do all the work.

Plus, here’s a quote from Atreus Homes’ website:

The Martinez family has given everything to better the lives of others who are worse off than themselves; even to giving up their own family's home to make room for others who need places to stay. Because of their extreme sacrifice, an entire community has been made a better place. Their efforts to alleviate the many problems in their area have not gone unnoticed, and this week we're giving them an extreme thank you for being the people we all needed them to be.

I applaud the efforts of all the businesses and the volunteers who came together to make the show work. Obviously, I wasn't among them, or I'd know all the business contributors' names, but I want to praise their work.

~Sue Donckels, Managing Editor

Pictures

My twin finally sent me the pictures she took over Christmas.  It only took about a month!  I don't get these delays with digital cameras - you upload photos, you hit the send button.  Why did I have to keep asking for pictures?

I wanted to see my sister's pictures because her Hubby took a picture of the four sisters.  We had one taken almost 20 years ago for our parents' 25th wedding anniversary.  We did another one while the entire family was there for the family portrait, too.

My twin took a picture of the picture from twenty years ago.  I honestly did not see a change until viewing those pictures side by side.  Pictures are worth a 1,000 words, which was also captured in the photo of my Little One opening her Christmas present.

Pirates of The Caribbean 3: $19.95

Box to fool child: $1.00

Expression on little girl's face upon seeing DVD: Priceless

Thanks, Kati, for finally sending me those pictures.

Veronica Hosking

Poetry Editor

Thank You by Maureen Locher

A tiny article announcing the date and time of a parent meeting at the nearby American Red Cross prompts in me profound gratitude for:

My 17-year-old who texts his girlfriend every waking moment, who yells, “Hang on,” each time he is asked to do anything, and who creates a cyclone of messes wherever he goes. Thank you for this impatient bundle of perpetual motion.

My 18-year-old who thinks he knows more than I know, who by his very age is the wild card at any moment because, you see, we have never experienced the terrible twos in this house; they did not exist here. They lay dormant for 17 years to become the nightmarish 19s and this boy is definitely exhibiting precursors seen here twice before. Thank you for the being who can do no wrong.

My 20-year-old who complains incessantly when asked to bring the dog in, who “forgets” to call home when he will be really late, and who has quite the extensive vocabulary of four letter words. Thank you for the voice that yells the words.

My 22-year-old who hangs his clothes all over the dining room chairs every single day and who must always, never fail have the last word in an argument. Thank you for those hands that strew the clothes.

The headline of the article? “Parents of Murdered Children Meeting”

Maureen Locher

Copy editor MWLM

Maureen has been seen hugging and kissing her boys extra these days. Where are your kids right now? Find them. Hug them. Kiss them. Tell them you love them. Read more of Maureen’s thoughts at http://maureenlocher.blogspot.com/ ~ To Give God.

Extreme Community

Earlier this week the TV cast and crew of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition unveiled their latest accomplishment in a southeast neighborhood of my home town, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Overall, the whole situation can be summed up in one word: awesome.

But it wasn’t just the show and Ty Pennington that awed everyone. The most marvelous aspect of the entire experience was the community force that pulled together. The builders who donated materials and the numerous and diverse volunteers of all ages who donated their time and sweat--from construction to catering to massages--throughout the week really made the magic of the show work. It takes the right people to conjure the right magic.

Overall, a team of over 3,000 people contributed! In one week, an old house was razed and a brand new masterpiece was constructed for a deserving family whose father has been rewarded for transforming a needy community into a refuge. Reverend Gerald Martinez’ efforts with his ministry has decreased crime in the area and improved the lives of everyone he’s “touched” in a matter of only four years.

What began as a gift to a wonderful and giving family turned into an even greater gift for the entire community.

These are the kinds of stories that should fill up the front page of all newspapers. This story covered our local paper's front page just the other day. For any fans of the show, the episode will air some time this spring.

I wish the show could make a change in every neighborhood.

~Sue Donckels, Managing Editor for Mom Writer’s Literary Magazine

All I Have To Be

I go through cycles and phases in life where I feel really “uncool.” It might be that I feel left out of a “cool” group of friends, or I don’t understand why a really good blog post doesn’t get any comments when someone else’s page gets 20 comments a day. Why do they like her and not me – I think? So I try harder to be what I deem “likeable.”

It occurs to me today how I have lived most of my life wanting people to like me. I know most all of us do want others to like us. But I have that inner need that compels me and propels me. I can’t stand it when I feel like someone doesn’t like me. It makes me want to get them to like me and to prove to them (and maybe myself) that they were wrong about me. I am not unlikeable!

Words cannot express how my heart feels knowing that I tend to be like this. I am saddened that I have let myself be gripped by something so much. I am learning that it’s okay if people don’t like me. I may not like it, it may even sadden my heart – but I’m learning to deal and live with it. You know what? Not everyone liked Jesus when He walked the earth, and not everyone likes Him today. I know it saddens His heart, just as it saddens mine. But He can handle it.

As I learn how to have my own voice in life more and more; as I grow into my own skin and realize my purpose in life, my gifts and strengths, as well as my flaws – I’m going to have to learn how to deal with others who won’t agree with everything about me. I may love one part of my life to a passion, where someone else cannot relate to it at all. It does not mean I’m unlikeable.

There is an old song by Amy Grant called “All I Have To Be.” There is a part in the song that says,

“The more I try to be the best,
the more I get the worst
And I realize the good in me
Is only there because of who you are.

All I ever have to be
Is what you’ve made me
Any more or less
Would be a step out of your plan.”

This is my heart’s desire. I want to remember that all I have to be is who God made me to be. Nothing more and nothing less. What the world makes of who I am is their choice. As long as I’m living for my Lord I can carry the knowledge with me that not only am I likeable but I am loveable – so much so that God created me just to enjoy me.

I’m just trying to be real. This is who I am. God has no more expectations of me so I shouldn’t put any on myself. There may be days where someone doesn’t choose me to do something with him or her or I am forgotten by someone else. I may not have the most popular blog or move everyone with the words that I write – but it’s okay. I am learning it’s okay. It’s what I carry in my heart and live out in my life that truly matters.

This is all I need to be.

~ Dionna Sanchez (Keeping It Real Columnist)