Hello September
POSTED AT 08:04 AM in My Life and what's left of it...

I read somewhere that if I thought the months that passed were difficult, then I must be really scared of September. So what I've been through wasn't enough huh? Nevertheless, I welcome September with a positive thought.

The truth is, just the thought that in four months this year is coming to its end, makes me feel miserable again. But I'm trying to fight that ugly feeling. It's just that, I have great plans this year. And I can see that they'll remain as plans. I can't seem to make them a reality.

Well, there's 2010 to look forward to. I know I'm not getting any younger but I realize I won't get anywhere with my rushing from here to there. Good things will come. I know. One day at at time May, one day at a time...

And so, September's gonna be harder than July huh! It'll be more frightening than August I suppose. I guess I need to be very tough then. If I really want to survive another year, then I would have to beat this fear, if I can't, I guess I'll just have to close my eyes.

Happy September everyone! May God bless us all...

Reading: a prospect writing employer's "WishList" :)
Listening to: Never Had a Dream Come True by S Club 7
Watching: my son jumping on the bed ;)
Feeling: determined

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090909
POSTED AT 08:36 AM in My Life and what's left of it..., The World

Today must be a lucky day because of 3 9's - Spetember 09, 2009. I don't feel lucky though. It's as if something bad is about to happen again. I hope I'm wrong though because 3 and 9 are my favorite numbers.

Well, I happen to bump into a website called World Day of Interconnectedness. It upholds that 090909 is a celebration of interconnectedness. Hmmm... The site wants people to consciously practice interconnectedness throughout this day. That means, it advocates unity and cooperation -- that we would be responsible individuals as we call on a deep "oneness" in all our actions and decisions since we know that those decisions might and/or will affect others as well. Nice! This is a good cause. You see, this will definitely result to an environmentally sound and sustainable, satisfactory and socially just life in this world. I want that! Count me in!

I'm not really a fan of astrology and numerology. I have a firm belief in the words of God written in the Holy Scriptures. But I see nothing wrong in practicing interconnection. I even like the idea of doing it everyday from now on. It's not only beneficial to the whole mankind but I know it will work on my adavantage. So why not? Visit the site. You'll know all information you must know in celebrating this day. As for me, I'm glad it's 090909.

 

Feeling: accomplished

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Liar! Liar! Liar!
POSTED AT 09:01 AM in My Life and what's left of it..., Writing for sanity's sake

An Open Letter to Dorrance Publishing

Ok, honestly, I am upset, disappointed, devastated, angry, grrr!

I am trying real hard to be calm. I know I can do nothing about it since I am but a nobody, a no-name in the publishing world. But I can never and that's a big NEVER let a Ms. Veronica DeMarco and Dorrance Publishing get away with this.

So, what really happened?

One day, i was browsing on my Facebook account when an ad for publishing appeared on the page, I thought I can visit and just read through, you know, I was just curious. And so I clicked the link and was directed to the abovementioned publishing's website. It made me fill-up an electronic form -- name, address, contact details, and whether I have a complete manuscript or not. Well, I selected the option "My manuscript is not complete" since I'm still on the 3rd chapter of my book anyways. I got a reply minutes after filling-up that form. I know it was an automatic reply but I got so interested with the following lines:

We would be interested in having you submit your manuscript when you have finished writing it. Do you have a projected completion date? If so, please respond to me at your earliest convenience.

You indicated that your manuscript is incomplete, however, we have found that sometimes authors do not realize when a manuscript is suitable to be reviewed for possible publication. As a reminder, we consider a completed manuscript to be:

Poetry - At least 12 poems (most poets send between 25-75)

Fiction and non-fiction - 15,000 words or more

Children's books - 12 pages (This includes future illustrations. The text will probably only be a couple of pages. You needn't have the illustrations complete, but please include a separate page describing the look of the illustrations, and whether or not you wish to have someone on our staff draw them.)

When you find yourself with a completed manuscript, the quickest and easiest manner for you to submit your completed work for our review is in a digital format (that is, saved as one file in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect or another commonly used word processing program).

The Poetry part really caught my attention because I actually have many poems written already and I was thinking, why not publish them? And so, I arranged 15 poems, created a title for the collection, even a simple introduction that describes the collection. I replied to the email and attached the document and told Ms. DeMarco that I aim to finish everything on November. But for now, I think this is a complete manuscript and I'll appreciate if they can review it so they can tell me if it's suitable enough for publication.

I was disappointed when she replied with "Thank you for your interest in Dorrance. However, at this time we are only accepting completed manuscripts for review.  blah blah blah" I was like, "What????" I thought 12 poems is more than enough to be considered as a complete manuscript? What is she talking about? I was thinking she must have missed the number on my email or maybe she never opened the file yet that she never knew it contains 15 poems; I opted to reply to her message with:

You did say "we consider a completed manuscript to be: Poetry - At least 12 poems (most poets send between 25-75)" I submitted 15 poems on that manuscript. Kindly tell me if you're interested to review them or not.

Well, she replied with:

We only review complete works. In the email you sent me you said, "It's not complete yet but I am targeting November of this year to finish everything. " Once the work is complete than please submit it. Thanks!

Arrggghh! Was I talking to a @#$%#!#$!???? It isn't complete of course, that's why it's called a manuscript! But it is a complete manuscript according to their guidelines "Poetry - At least 12 poems (most poets send between 25-75>". Shucks! I got so disappointed that I got conned by a publishing agent. What is she? A secretary? An office clerk? Didn't she understand her job? So where are my poems now? Will I see them published under a different name? Darn! I'm really upset!

If ever you are reading this Dorrance people, I am, waiting for a good explanation; and I would appreciate if the one who'll explain is someone who at least knows what he or she is talking about.

Listening to: Beautiful Liar by Beyonce & Shakira
Feeling: disappointed

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Gettin' Busy
POSTED AT 12:58 PM in My Life and what's left of it..., My Creations

I know I have problems to deal with, a son who takes most of my time when I'm not working, housechores (like cooking) I love doing even if the helper is around, a novel to finish and even two blogs to maintain... but I can't say no to my cousin.

The truth is, I really appreciate their confidence in talent and skills. I'm tickled to the bones that my ability, ahem, in desktop publishing is being sought by relatives and friends alike. And so I said yes.

So now, I am busy with my cousin's wedding invitation. The wedding's gonna be on the 21st of September and I was given a week to finish all 50 invitations. Well, the count started last Sunday, I'm supposed to give the finished product tomorrow then. I'm done with designing, printing, cutting and folding, I'm yet to put the ribbons though. Hayyy.. So little time, so much to do. I hope I get to finish this tonight.

I like my paper creations. You see, I've been doing this since I was in college. I've done so many wedding and birthday invitations already. I did my own wedding invitation (yeah, for that @$#% wedding, hahaha!), all my sisters' wedding invitations too, my cousins', my aunt's, my friends' and even their kids' birthday party invites. I design wedding and birthday giveaways too, as well as personalized cards, calling cards and t-shirt designs for printing. The truth is, I wanted to run my own business on desktop publishing. I even started making identification cards 2 years ago, until the project was shelved due to an unplanned event (yeah right!). Sigh.. I really wish I will have my own creative shop someday, it will be called mApLeKiSsEs CrEaTiOnS. Cool eh?

Yay! Look at the time! Enough daydreaming already, I have to finish the invitations. Bye for now...

Feeling: busy

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Awww! I Feel Good!
POSTED AT 12:51 PM in My Life and what's left of it..., People

Hihihi!

The truth is, I'm still a little dizzy and exhausted but oh well, I had fun!

You see, I was one of the bride's maids in my cousin's wedding yesterday (yeah, the one whom I created the invitations for). The location is actually an hour or more (depends on who's driving, hehehe) from Davao City so me and my cousins (and aunts and uncles) traveled twice -- the night before the wedding for the rehearsal and on the wedding day itself.

I know I shouldn't have agreed on being one of the entourage since I will only end up hurting myself with the way my marriage life has ended (and began for that matter) but my dear cousin pleaded (sigh), I mean we're really close to each other. He even bribed me with compliments, telling me that he wanted a very pretty bride's maid for her soon-to-be wife so it's important that I'm there. Yeah right! But well, the thought tickled my fancy anyways! Hahaha!

So we were there the night before the wedding and got exhausted with all the traveling, especially that we have to look good and fresh the day after for the actual wedding.

I actually love witnessing church weddings even if I'm separated right now. I mean, my life is my life, the whole marriage thing has nothing to do with it. I'm not bitter about other people finding the love of their lives and end up marrying them and living a blissful life. A wedding will always be memorable, special, sacred and romantic.

And so I was all eyes and ears during the ceremony and got really busy (bride's maids stuff and taking pictures of course! hahaha!) during the reception. I love the motif. Royal blue is actually stunning and my gown was not bad at all even if it was rather big and long on me (guess I still am losing weight huh! and height? hahaha!). And the reception area is really beautiful! I love the place as mush as I love the food

 

I went home exhausted yet feeling really good. I don't know. It seems like the wedding made me wanna live again. It made me see the beauty and joy of life -- made me appreciate all the good things that life has to offer. Yeah, I feel good alright!

 

Listening to: From This Moment On by Shania Twain

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