Okay, Stop Messing with The Write Woman..... okay, this time I mean it! (76 Days until Graduation -- still)

You want some, don't you?

Totally impractical to write two different posts on the same day, isn't it? Well that's too damned bad. I'm doing it. Since you're hear, you might as well find out why. Here it is... personal advice of making lemons into lemonade, even when you're allergic to citric acid. (Yes, it's one of my many flaws.)

Yesterday I was so proud of myself for taking my son to his doctor appointment in Salt Lake City, on time despite the traffic. My daughter and I walked to the downtown library, which is huge, and had a grand time! Saw all types of interesting people along the way, and the weather was to die for, but not literally. Everything was great, or so I thought.

When I got home, I found I hadn't received the job I had wanted so badly, but I got over it. I had an online school meeting and put a little into the conversation, but mostly listened. Meetings like that would go so much faster if people paid attention to the materials covered until waiting for the end and having them repeated. I'm sure some of them were muted with the television on, listening to music, or texting their beaus. At any rate, I had a wonderful and uneventful night, because I didn't know!

Yes, don't you hate it when things are good because you don't know? But then you find out and you're

Multitasking isn't PR friendly

twice as angry as you would have been in the first place because you had a good time and should have been upset hours ago? On the other hand, the day was good and I'd rather leave it that way.

I reserved Exodus tonight from Redbox, even though the movie only got 2.5 stars. The intention was in watching it as a wind down, in addition to possibly posting it on my blog for LinkedIn and Friday Night Reviews. After all, no time lost is time well spent, right? But when we got out of the car and looked into my purse, guess what? I have my driver's license and other cards I don't use frequently in my huge wallet in one pocket and everything else in other pockets. Now there's lots of room for more junk because some slippery Joe managed to finagle them out of my purse yesterday. The bad news is my bank card was stolen and the movie I reserved couldn't be had. The good news? There's less than $3 in my account and I still have my keys, my driver's license, and my really important things.

I've learned a very valuable lesson from this. First, always zip your purse closed if you're not using it, but more importantly, keep your documents separated from each other. This is why men don't have purses. They become confused with all the stuff in ours, but when they lose their wallets, they  lose money and their condoms.

You know what I wish I could have stolen? A few bills! Wouldn't that be something, especially if they paid them for you too? Or what if someone stole your McDonald's bag when you weren't looking and then got salmonella poisoning? That would be awesome! Well, whoever it is, I hope they took advantage of all the great deals they got because I just cancelled my Executive Costco card.

Good luck with that!

The Write Woman Links Networking (76 Days to Go)

Those times where the right answer is wrong

In case you are one of my avid fans, curious as to the promise of my future, today the forecast is a bit cloudy. Not necessarily dark and cloudy, just unclear. The job I was determined to have was not the position my future deemed possible. I was certain if I heard negative news I would be crushed, but I was thankfully incorrect. Isn't it odd when something that doesn't work out for you gives you hope? But yesterday I decided to have a good day anyway, and so I did, certain I would wake up this morning bummed out. Here's the kicker, I figured since I was in the final choices that I do have something to offer and I need to quit being so shy about it. I woke up, nonetheless, delighted.  I'm going to go ahead and let it all hang out! (My skills and nothing but my skills, no more.) If you've happen to see my name on the bathroom wall discussing my skills, its nothing but bald faced lies!

Resume, specialties, and even blogs

Yesterday afternoon I had a class, so I quickly located a new resume template. I took the template, used the ideas from a "pay to use" template, included the order Full Sail University suggested, and put it together this morning, adding my own logo in the corner that's simple, but attractive. In the meantime, I've requested a few choice recommendations from people who are familiar with my work for my LinkedIn profile, as well as posting my resume all over the place in media corners. All this while playing referee between my two kids, taking my son to soccer practice, and completing my schooling at the same time. Can I multitask? Before I would have said no, but now I'm not so sure. I can name a couple of ex boyfriends who would be disappointed to hear I've changed now.

Parents aren't always right

There are all kinds of positions for people with writing skills, so if you enjoy writing and your parents
try to tell you there's no future in it, tell them to stick it in their ear. I wish I would have done that when my parents poo-pooed my dreams. They discouraged me and told me to be quiet and watch television. I showed them, didn't I? My degree will be in Creative Writing for Entertainment. This just proves that you can try to steer a river, but natural erosion will have its way eventually.

Don't think attending school has been an easy choice, it certainly hasn't. We've all made tremendous sacrifices for this opportunity, mostly by finding and creating our own entertainment and night after night of meatless pasta. This is also a bizarre blessing. Because we couldn't afford meat, we no longer have the cravings we used to, but have you seen what the government loads into meat lately? I'll give you a hint, it doesn't moo or oink, and with my daughter striving to become a zoologist, her face nearly turns inside out it wrinkles so much at the thought.

Investing in yourself guarantees a return

Meanwhile, my school allows access to the students to attend online classes at Lynda.com. I'd be silly not to take advantage of those, and only wish I'd know about them earlier. So now I'm making sure I pass off at least one class a week. They range from filmmaking, storytelling, etc. to memorizing, resumes, and stuff I use in my everyday life. They're free, and I'd be setting myself up for failure by not taking them. Sure, my kids miss me. But in the long run, I'll be able to afford more and have a greater experience with them. It's definitely a sacrifice, but the kids think my homemade pizzas, Panini, spaghetti and biscuits are to die for so they don't complain. (Psst, it's all the same flour, water, and salt mixture... shh!)

The Write Woman’s Suspense is Killing Her! (84 Days to Graduate)

One decision, great success

First, to find the links in this article, you must skim with your mouse because they are not highlighted, for some reason. Technology, right?
Still, I have some important things to get off my chest, so here goes.

You know when you’ve had a first date and you go home after, thinking about all the possibilities that can crop up from that one meeting? I mean, you could actually do something totally crazy and fall in love in a few months. This time next year you could be married. If things get really wild, you could have a new baby. So much can change with a single decision made in a short period of time. Lives can literally be altered with one person’s decision to either date or not date, make eye contact or not make eye contact, hire her or not hire her for a position at your company. You’re life is hanging by a string, waiting for someone else to decide. Or your date could tell you to get lost and leave you at the table to pay the bill.

Fine, you strangled it out of me. I’m so uptight about finding out about this position tomorrow I have had a throbbing headache for two nights. The good news is that tomorrow night, one way or another I should find about the end result. I just hope it’s great news that puts me to bed with a smile and images of dancing gingerbread men. But either way, this part will be over. And I’ll either have a new position with an amazing company with extraordinary people, or I’ll need to go back to the drawing board and start fresh, searching for that other needle in the haystack.

On the flip side, I must do something right. I got a call from another company wanting my help with writing scripts and putting together instructional videos for their company. It’s a

Are all scripts really alike? Yes, Virginia, they are.

subcontracted company to help prevent kids from committing suicide, which I’m a huge advocate of supporting. The problem is that my income right now is extremely limited, and they said they are unable to pay me at first. While I’d really like to help, and will do what I can, all of my “extra” time (like I have any to start with) is spent looking at working positions and filling out resumes. So really, I have no spare time. I spent nearly an hour and a half on the phone with him, explaining the approaches that need to be taken and telling him I’ll write his scripts for free, but I can’t promise anything more until I’m in a better position. Scripts are a breeze for me to write. Juggling? Not so much. That’s my son’s deal, and he’s not bad.

Nikki is ecstatic for this weekend. Her brother is visiting his father and she gets me all to herself. Well, whatever is left over from attending school online. But this week I’m feeling in control. We’re making games in school, and mine is about this character (male or female) who has either a dog or a child. His/her brother is missing after a freak radiation storm (which we have a 12% chance of encountering, by the way). All the world’s power goes out and some of the people get radiation poisoning that alters their thinking ability. Our government had two days notice to get prepared and didn’t tell the civilians, for fear of reeking havoc. Okay, I can hear you and see your hand doing that puppet thingy, “blah,blah, blah.” So you’ll have to believe me when I tell you it’s pretty darned exciting. Anyway, I’ll make time for my daughter. I have to. She won’t be young forever. Perhaps I can create a video game she’d enjoy playing. Hmm. Little square men that don’t talk. Nope, Roblox has already been made.

Less than 10 years ago

This is me now

The real news? My son encouraged me to submit my entry to an upcoming game show called “Strong.” It’s a weightloss show for people needing to lose 30 lbs. It just happens that is exactly the amount I need to lose. I submitted my pictures and story so I can be publicly humiliated for the world’s entertainment. I did not, however, submit a picture of myself in a bikini. First of all, how many women who are not feeling their best are even going to purchase a bikini, not to mention post it to strangers so they can laugh and point? Sure, I’ll tell myself I’m an inspiration to someone and hope it’s true. Then again, I’d need to wait for them to call me. Cameron says I’m so weird I’d probably end up turning the weightloss show into a half hour sitcom. I doubt it, but if I did I could break into television maybe—as a writer. I’ve never really wanted to be on the front side of a camera since I turned 30. Somehow that’s the magic age when reality kicks you in the teeth and tells you Cinderella isn’t someone realistic to idolize. You knew before then? Well, as long as you’re not one of those people who rains all over others’ parades, I’ll continue to believe in Santa and the magic of positive thinking.

The Write Woman has a Game Plan (88 Magical Days to Graduate)

Alright, the countdown grows serious and the sweat rises to the surface of my forehead. I crouch down, touching the ground with my fingertips at either side of my bent leg, my other stretched behind me ready to propel me forward. The time to baton down the hatches has arrived. So here’s the totally weird part. Get ready.

Because I have a class A CDL (Commercial Drivers License, but my trainer looked a lot different. His cleavage wasn’t hairless.) I earned it a long time ago, and it’s a real pain in the ass to regain if I let it go, I went ahead and renewed it—sort of a fallback. Okay, more than that. Insecurity. I didn’t know if I’d be able to find my passion position in writing. But then I did it! 

I sent my resume and received a response asking for a sample spiel for a commercial. Because I was having so much fun with writing, I sent three. I figured, what the hey! If they liked it they might read the next and decide they want more. After sending them, I received a call from a lovely girl for an interview, whom I will not name for her own preservation. I’m totally psyched! I’m so psyched out I looked up the company on the Internet to take notes, but got so caught up I forgot to write a lot down. Their chef is extraordinary and so is the gal I spoke with. It will be a travesty if, after all my note taking and video watching, I don’t get the position. They’re advocates of natural food and families. And the best part? It’s located in American Fork, so we can relocate back to Draper. Yeah! Go Team!

We spent a portion of yesterday watching movies. I watched Wit with Emma Thompson and was reintroduced to the Charles Dickens Christmas Carol with a sprinkle of realism tossed in—oh yeah, and without the happy ending. Okay, a shower of realism. The show was a serious reality check with the manners hospital care workers typically display, but I believe the artist’s message was that in a hospital intelligence of the patience doesn’t matter, it’s all about the money. She was focused on intelligence instead of humanity, so her time in the hospital was spent without visitors. Locke, starring Tom Hardy was horrible! I don’t understand how it could have received a four-star rating. The first 25 minutes was spent in his car talking on the phone. That’s as far as I made it before I couldn’t take it any more.

Now my son has me participating in a computer game, online, entitled Karaoke Party. It’s pretty fun, but I stink fairly bad. I got second place on Guns ‘n Roses Paradise City, so I can’t complain. My neighbors' opinion will probably differ, but being who they are, I'm sure they deserve it.

Weird? Yeah, the neighbors and my kids would agree with you there, and maybe my new employers, but they’ll have to get to know me first.

95 Freakin’ Days? Are you Kidding? (That's right!)

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m graduating in less than 100 days! My life will change dramatically when I graduate. I’ll lose all my school friends—well, maybe the real friends will continue being my friends, right? At least that’s what everybody says. It would be nice to actually meet my friends though. So that brings me to graduation day, which is September 4, 2015. It’s also my final birthday of being able to say I’m forty-something, which is pretty much what I do now. That way I’ve got the slight chance they’ll think I’m 45ish. But I’ve heard terrible things about graduation and the way the whole scheduley thing changes. No, I don’t think “scheduley thing” is correct. Yes, I’m a writer. But I think being a professional writer should allow me some deliberate breaks in writing. Being perfect is a hard criteria to live up to, and everyone needs a break from perfection. Even me!

            This past week, my kids and I lived off of two bags of flour, a large package of grated cheese, Italian seasoning, a package of diced ham, two gallons of milk, ½ container of oatmeal, 4 packages of spaghetti noodles, and 8 jars of spaghetti sauce. Think this is a lot? Let me tell you, I skipped at least one meal every day, and sometimes two. The good news is, my appetite has dwindled. The bad news? When I don’t eat, my teeny-tiny daughter won’t either. And I hear you saying, “Why don’t you fake it?” You can’t fake eating! Faking orgasms, I can do that. But that won’t help the situation much.

Our trip will DEFINITELY be more eventful than the Griswold's

            So I was talking to my friend today on the phone and I mentioned going to Winter Park, Florida for graduation. Flying is way expensive, and by the time I could afford the tickets they’d be sending my urn. Granted it would be less expensive, but it would sort of defeat the purpose. I figured a road trip might be fun! See the countryside, see  America’s biggest ball of string, or the smallest house. I’m not sure what we’d find, but it would be a stretch from what my kids are used to. Five years ago, we went to California and had the time of our lives at Disneyland. Doing that again, on the opposite coast, would be incredible! Putting up with the kids for 2,310.9 miles one-way? Could be another story.

            Today we went to Costco to renew my membership, thinking that I’ll start working soon and will need to save money. They asked me if I wanted to keep my executive account. I don’t really get why I said “yes,” but I did. Turns out, when I had my account 5 years ago, they still had my info. on file. Apparently, they’d tried to send me my yearly refund and it was returned. Guess how I paid for my membership renewal? Yeah! Basically, it was free! Strange how that works.

The cheapest and tastiest pizza EVER!

            I invented this new sort of pizza last night. The night before, with all my snazzy ingredients, I made homemade ravioli. (But a much simpler version.) That’s right, I made dough and everything, and then stuffed it with cream cheese and mozzarella. Yummy! When I was finished, I had some dough left over and was afraid to throw it out. I opened the practically empty fridge last night and found two strips of half frozen ravioli dough. Pulling it out, I rolled it so thin I could have rolled a doobie with it. Did I say “doobie”? The dough was paper thin, I tell you. I used the homemade rice paper, spread with tomato sauce, diced ham, coated with cheese and baked it for 7 minutes. I made a cracker pizza that was smokin’ good. (And that’s just old school talk.)

            But tonight I did some investing in The Film Scene. We were supposed to watch Avengers:

"You up all night to Loki? I'm up all night to get Thor!"

Age of Ultron. Magnificent movie that caught my attention at the beginning when they all hit a slo-mo moment overlaid while fighting. The show was nearly 2.5 hours, but worth every single second. The only thing my simple little mind isn’t particularly fond of is the absence of Pepper, and the addition of four new characters. Now I’m aware of comics enough to be aware the X-men and the Avengers have thousands of characters in their house, but following them all in one show can be so confusing! And what of the Incredible Hulk? Sure, he’s green, but the Widow wants him. I’m not sure I’d get involved with someone named Black Widow, but I’m not going to hold it against him. The ultimate bad guy was played by non other than James Spader, but I didn't find out 'til the credits at the end, and boy, was I surprised. The Avenger that makes me giddy is heavenly Thor. Good night! And it is late, so I bid you adieu.