Tuesday I was a bad mother

Tuesday, I left my child at baseball. No excuse, just plum forgot where he was and that he needed me. I suppose it has to do with the fact that his Dad dropped him off, he left around the same time he would for school, it rained on Monday and baseball was canceled. But the fact is that I just wasn't ready for the new schedule and I had a bad mother moment. Don't worry. When I figured it out (20 minutes after I was suppose to be there) it hit me like a ton of bricks, or a train, or any other large object that makes your heart drop to your knees and suck in air like you have to fill an entire hot air balloon. I hustled my smaller son out of the house (I had forgotten about his day camp as well) and raced (as fast I could given all of Brunswick is under construction) to the ball field. The good news is that he was never in any harm. The older kids came to the ball field for their session along with many Moms we know from school. He played happily on the playground until I showed up 45 minutes late.
Wednesday was much better and perhaps today I'll even figure out how to revise my picture book in between pick-ups and drop offs. Mama taxi ready to roll.

I'm Back

My last post was twelve days ago and I'm truly thrilled to be back and posting again. When our parents warned us about being starving artists they didn't know about the stress of debt. Yes, we eat fine in the Boll house but right around the 15th of each month we start wondering about how we will make it to the 30th. I've been applying to restaurants, LL Bean and a job for the fall. So far, nothing has come through. If something did come through for the summer my time table is so odd with caring for my kids I don't know how anyone would schedule me.

So, I turned in my application packet for a part-time adjunct lecturers position at Bowdoin yesterday. If I got the job, I'd be teaching Environmental Education, supervising 10 Bowdoin students in elementary school placements. It is a dream job for me and I thought about staying quiet about it. But, like a pregnancy, if things don't work out, you want to have the support of those who care. So, I'm hoping to get an interview at least. We'll see.

While I've been working at get work, the work I love, my writing and illustrating, has been shoved aside like some in-the-way child who is sulking in the corner asking to be played with. Print, draw, write, create, it says. I do have my sister coming in mid-July and I've been saving my pennies for an intensive illustration course at the Maine College of Art. I'm really looking forward to it! Hoping to end up with a dummy for Roar! that I can send off immediately.

I got a nice rejection from Kirchoff/Wohlberg. My picture books are age appropriate but picture books are a hard sell these days. (I know, I know!) Really they are looking for middle grade or young adult novels. Won't that market get flooded too? Geez. Happy first day of summer!

Emails you don't send...

Here is another funny video link. Not about rejection but email communication ettiquette, if you will. I wonder when these people have time to create these great videos? Thanks to fabulous friend and illustrator Leticia Plate for sending me the link. Take a look at her "Snail Mail Productions" link to neat stuff she's created for sale. Very crafty!

Rejection Video

I'd like to say I found this video myself, but alas, I've been holding a small boy's head over the toilet since last night and haven't the time to wander the web. Enjoy! Thanks to Jo Knowles!