Today, I've watched as the news broadcast reports of people donating food, clothing, even toys to the victims of the tornado in Joplin, MO. This isn't the first tornado in Missouri this year, but it is the deadliest and most destructive yet.
At last count the death toll had risen to 117 dead, and hundreds wounded. Homes have been destroyed, possessions gone, even simple things like food and water are hard to come by. A local company, Twiddlebits, has organized an online auction with several other vendors. All the money will go to buy supplies such as clean drinking water, non-perishable food, toiletries, even undergarments (who wants to wear used ones?lol).
Personally, I'm a couponer and have used my recent stockpile to donate the much needed toiletries, such as toothpaste, body wash, soap, and deodorant. I was originally planning on hosting a garage sale for all the clothing we no longer wear, as well as backpacks, toys, even some baby supplies from my babysitting days. Instead, all of these things will be headed to Joplin, MO this week.
If you have any items you no longer use, or would like to give to the victims please head to Fox2Now for the nearest donation drop-offs. Everything is needed; clothing, sheets, blankets, non-perishable food, bottled water, toiletries (deodorant, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste, hairbrushes and combs, toilet paper, towels, wash cloths, etc), undergarments and socks, shoes, etc.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Not writing related...well, sort of
Today is Monday, May 23. The last day of school for my kids is Friday, May 27. During that time my son will graduate middle school, and my daughter will turn 12. Then, on Saturday, May 28, my youngest son will turn 13. Seems like a great week, right? Wrong!
Not only will my kids be home spouting "I'm bored!" for the next three months, my darling daughter is one step closer to her teen years, my pre-teen son will officially be a teenager, and my oldest son will be entering high school. If I was emotional person this is the week I would be carrying around a box of tissues!
Now, onto the crappy part. As much as I like hanging out with my kids (they're finally old enough to understand my humor), and as much as I like to sleep in, the next two months is going to be very difficult. Many of you know I have to pack the house, find a new house, finalize the home loan and get us moved...all by the end of July. This will all happen with the kids running circles around me, "Mom, can I go to xxx house?", "Mom, he won't stop talking to me!", "Mom, she won't take turns with the video game!", "Mom, he cussed!", "Mom, can we have ice cream/soda/a snack/*enter food product here*!".
My mom was a stay at home mom until I was fourteen years old, and there were five of us total, although she only stayed home with four of us. At times, we didn't have enough money to go anywhere special. But, some years, we got to go to Six Flags, the Zoo, Purina Farms, Grant's Farm, etc. As much as I'd like to say the kids and I will be playing all summer long, we all know how difficult this will be while trying to get all the other things completed!
Well, I'm off to pack some more/clean/house hunt/run errands/market/write/network...just pick one and let me know what I'm doing! Lol
Not only will my kids be home spouting "I'm bored!" for the next three months, my darling daughter is one step closer to her teen years, my pre-teen son will officially be a teenager, and my oldest son will be entering high school. If I was emotional person this is the week I would be carrying around a box of tissues!
Now, onto the crappy part. As much as I like hanging out with my kids (they're finally old enough to understand my humor), and as much as I like to sleep in, the next two months is going to be very difficult. Many of you know I have to pack the house, find a new house, finalize the home loan and get us moved...all by the end of July. This will all happen with the kids running circles around me, "Mom, can I go to xxx house?", "Mom, he won't stop talking to me!", "Mom, she won't take turns with the video game!", "Mom, he cussed!", "Mom, can we have ice cream/soda/a snack/*enter food product here*!".
My mom was a stay at home mom until I was fourteen years old, and there were five of us total, although she only stayed home with four of us. At times, we didn't have enough money to go anywhere special. But, some years, we got to go to Six Flags, the Zoo, Purina Farms, Grant's Farm, etc. As much as I'd like to say the kids and I will be playing all summer long, we all know how difficult this will be while trying to get all the other things completed!
Well, I'm off to pack some more/clean/house hunt/run errands/market/write/network...just pick one and let me know what I'm doing! Lol
Monday, May 16, 2011
Life always seems to get in the way!
I am so closed to finishing my latest novel I can taste it. However, every time I sit down to write something comes up. I have been blessed to stay home while my husband works. Even with not working outside of the home I still don't seem to have enough time in the day to get everything done. As if my plate isn't full enough, now I have two months to pack up a household of five (not counting all the critters), find a house, and get us moved. I really don't mind packing, it's the moving part that sucks. There never seems to be anyone in town when I need them.
So, I got to thinking: there has to be others out there with secrets to time management. I've heard of some who break everything down in time increments. You know, two hours for writing, two hours for networking, two hours for marketing, two hours for housework. What I'm curious about is those of you who work outside of the home. How the hell do you find time for everything?
Personally, the way I've been doing things lately (before the news of our quick move) is every time I hit a wall in my writing, I get away from the laptop and do some housework. When it's time for a break from manual labor, and if the story hasn't rebooted itself in my brain, I move over to networking and marketing. Granted, neither have been done to the extent they both need to be lately, but I'm trying.
I have a script to write for Voices of Valhalla which is do by the end of the month. As the publicity chair of the St. Louis Writers Guild I'm not thinking it would be uber professional if I were to turn it in late. Nah, not so much. So, do the math...moving, housework, three children (two with substantial special needs), pets, writing my novel, writing a script, networking, blogging, marketing, etc, etc, etc.
Anyone know where I can buy a few extra hours a day?
So, I got to thinking: there has to be others out there with secrets to time management. I've heard of some who break everything down in time increments. You know, two hours for writing, two hours for networking, two hours for marketing, two hours for housework. What I'm curious about is those of you who work outside of the home. How the hell do you find time for everything?
Personally, the way I've been doing things lately (before the news of our quick move) is every time I hit a wall in my writing, I get away from the laptop and do some housework. When it's time for a break from manual labor, and if the story hasn't rebooted itself in my brain, I move over to networking and marketing. Granted, neither have been done to the extent they both need to be lately, but I'm trying.
I have a script to write for Voices of Valhalla which is do by the end of the month. As the publicity chair of the St. Louis Writers Guild I'm not thinking it would be uber professional if I were to turn it in late. Nah, not so much. So, do the math...moving, housework, three children (two with substantial special needs), pets, writing my novel, writing a script, networking, blogging, marketing, etc, etc, etc.
Anyone know where I can buy a few extra hours a day?
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