Today, my beloved Fishdog and I are celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary.

Here’s how I met my perfect man…

The prologue to our story is that I dated a boy off and on for 4 years. It turned into a fairly unhealthy relationship. Basically, we became so used to each other, it was hard to imagine not being together. And, I realized that at 23, I was way too young to be settling. So, I kicked him to the curb.

Fast forward 3 months. The ex is pseudo stalking me. I’m on a date with a bartender and the ex shows up. I’m thinking, Wow, could this get worse?

No. It got better.

In walks the Fishdog. When I first saw him, I thought maybe it was the hangover causing all that woo-woo stuff going on inside me. It certainly wasn’t my date who was doing that to me. And the only feelings I had about my Ex at that time aren’t printable.

But, everytime I looked at this new guy, the woo-woo stuff happened.

I find out he’s one of my college buddy’s oldest friends. He had just graduated from college and had moved back into Little Rock.

He and I chatted for a while that night and when I left, I told my friend that he was the man I would marry.

And 15 months later, I did.

897

I took my kids to the skate park this morning. I sat under the pavillion with my copy of Don’t Look Down and settled in to read.

Only one other kid was wearing a helmet. I make my kids wear their helmets when they’re skating. But apparently I’m only one of a few.

Another mother was sitting near me and we struck up a conversation. She commented on how amazed she was that both of my boys wore their helmets. She said she would NEVER make hers wear a helmet unless the park required it.

“Why not?”

“I wouldn’t want to embarrass them in front of the other kids.”

“Embarrass them? What do you mean?”

“Well, if nobody else is wearing a helmet, I can’t make my kids feel uncomfortable because they have to wear a helmet.”

“So you’d rather pay for the hospital visit and possibly the long-term care of an incapicitated child due to a head injury than make your kid wear a helmet?”

“We have good insurance.”

I swear, I don’t understand people. My kids will wear a helmet as long as I can make them. I’m the parent. If they don’t wear their helmet, they don’t go to the skate park.

And you know what? The other kids could care less if my kid has a helmet on or not.

Sigh.

I really, truly don’t understand people.

I took my kids to the skate park this morning. I sat under the pavillion with my copy of Don’t Look Down and settled in to read.

Only one other kid was wearing a helmet. I make my kids wear their helmets when they’re skating. But apparently I’m only one of a few.

Another mother was sitting near me and we struck up a conversation. She commented on how amazed she was that both of my boys wore their helmets. She said she would NEVER make hers wear a helmet unless the park required it.

“Why not?”

“I wouldn’t want to embarrass them in front of the other kids.”

“Embarrass them? What do you mean?”

“Well, if nobody else is wearing a helmet, I can’t make my kids feel uncomfortable because they have to wear a helmet.”

“So you’d rather pay for the hospital visit and possibly the long-term care of an incapicitated child due to a head injury than make your kid wear a helmet?”

“We have good insurance.”

I swear, I don’t understand people. My kids will wear a helmet as long as I can make them. I’m the parent. If they don’t wear their helmet, they don’t go to the skate park.

And you know what? The other kids could care less if my kid has a helmet on or not.

Sigh.

I really, truly don’t understand people.

Dear Terry on Survivor,

What the hell is wrong with you, man! You could’ve kept Sally and changed the entire dynamic of the game. Courtney and Bruce would’ve come to your side–they were already halfway there! But no…that’s not how you played it.

And I don’t like it.

I think you’re into this to see how big your ego can get.

Sure, it’ll be fun to watch their team fall apart…but wouldn’t it have been more fun with Sally there?

Dammit. My two favorite players are now gone.

Hmmm.

Maybe Sally and Austin will hook up and make cute little Survivor babies. If that happens, then i’ll forgive you.

Sincerely,

-Mel
No longer your biggest fan.

Dear Terry on Survivor,

What the hell is wrong with you, man! You could’ve kept Sally and changed the entire dynamic of the game. Courtney and Bruce would’ve come to your side–they were already halfway there! But no…that’s not how you played it.

And I don’t like it.

I think you’re into this to see how big your ego can get.

Sure, it’ll be fun to watch their team fall apart…but wouldn’t it have been more fun with Sally there?

Dammit. My two favorite players are now gone.

Hmmm.

Maybe Sally and Austin will hook up and make cute little Survivor babies. If that happens, then i’ll forgive you.

Sincerely,

-Mel
No longer your biggest fan.

My oldest son is 12.

Last night we were watching LOST together and I happened to just glance over at him. His legs are longer now, and he’s taking on that gangly look of a teenager. He’s letting his hair grow so it’s now shaggy and in his eyes and he reminds me of the boys in the late seventies early eighties who drove Camaros and listened to Molly Hatchet.

My heart stopped.

My baby isn’t a baby anymore. He was a 5lb 6oz little tree-frog when he was born. But when I look at him now, I don’t see the baby.

I was having this serious moment of melancholy over my baby growing up, when he decided to rip one that blew a hole in my chair. Then he sniffed and started laughing.

I made a God-awful face and said something similar to “You’re not right.”

and he said, “What?” (and he added something else, which I refuse to print here)

Well, that set my melancholy at ease. He’s not growing up that fast after all. LOL

My oldest son is 12.

Last night we were watching LOST together and I happened to just glance over at him. His legs are longer now, and he’s taking on that gangly look of a teenager. He’s letting his hair grow so it’s now shaggy and in his eyes and he reminds me of the boys in the late seventies early eighties who drove Camaros and listened to Molly Hatchet.

My heart stopped.

My baby isn’t a baby anymore. He was a 5lb 6oz little tree-frog when he was born. But when I look at him now, I don’t see the baby.

I was having this serious moment of melancholy over my baby growing up, when he decided to rip one that blew a hole in my chair. Then he sniffed and started laughing.

I made a God-awful face and said something similar to “You’re not right.”

and he said, “What?” (and he added something else, which I refuse to print here)

Well, that set my melancholy at ease. He’s not growing up that fast after all. LOL

(I ACCIDENTALLY LINKED TO MARIA’S BLOG., SO IF YOU’VE ALREADY READ HER BLOG THIS MORNING, YOU’VE READ MY BLOG, TOO.

Diana’s Diversions: Julie Elizabeth Leto on Getting it Written
This is a great post.

I’d like to add my thoughts to it…

I’ve been writing almost 4 years exactly. In that time I’ve finished one manuscript and I have 2 more half complete and a 3rd in proposal form. (about 75 pages and fully plotted out)

I worked on my complete manuscript for 2 years. I kept going back and revising the first few chapters and not going forward. It really hurt my writing. I became stagnant because I stopped learning the craft. I can’t tell you what a feeling it was to finally finish the manuscript!

Finishing was a big deal…but I think the most important thing is to just write. Don’t get stuck in trying to make your first few chapters perfect. Just write. It makes a difference. Your voice gets stronger with every new scene you write.

Your style develops with every new idea you start.

Your passion for the craft of writing increases with every breakthrough you have!

By the end of this year, I will have 2 more completed novels. I’ve already started playing with another 2 ideas. These ideas didn’t come to me until after I finally finished the first manuscript.

You have to write forward, otherwise you’re just treading water.