One Mind A Thousand Directions

Every Sunday my mind is split into so many directions. I want to conquer the enemies, heal the sick and of course read the Sunday funnies!

However, I am on vacation from my full time career as a middle school teacher, so I am going to take this opportunity to devote every waking hour towards my magazine http://www.audacitymagazine.com .

Finding decent writers. Finding decent writers with a physical disability who are willing to share their adventures, stories and writings is much more difficult than I first thought.

Everyone thought people with disabilities would be knocking down my door or my email box would be bursting with submissions. That is partially correct. I do receive requests for submissions.

The problem is not the lack of submissions but lack of quality writing. Is it them or society's inability to educate people with physical disabilities?

I think some teachers feel sorry for them and they graduate without mastering the basics in reading, writing and math.

Spelling mistakes, run on sentences, subject verb agreement are a few of the errors found on a regular basis. Does anyone know how long it takes to proofread these articles? I will tell you... a very long time!

Here is something that irks me to no end: "I was wanting to walk."
Ok...was wanting? UGH! How about "I wanted"?

It might appear trivial but after awhile I want to pull my hair!

Then there is advertising. My magazine is not techie or medical or newsy or artsy or one genre only. It is a lifestyle magazine. A place for everyone to share their triumphs and tribulations. To say, "Hey, I am physically disabled and I have a life!"

Now trying to sell that pitch to companies. But what companies?
My goal is to get Lancome, Estee Lauder, Chanel, Home Depot, Walmart, and the rest of the big heavy hitters to sponsor, advertise and promote their products and services using real disabled people in our magazine. I don't want to see some able bodied person in a wheelchair in a retail ad because the model looks good. I want to see a real honest to goodness disabled person in an ad.

But back to my 1,000 directions.

I want to concentrate on my other writing. I have several writing projects that I plan to get published in the next three years. I have an idea for a series of novels where the main character is a wheelchair user in her early teens.

But I rather not go into detail on my personal writing projects until they are out there.

Did I tell you I am on the hunt for a home? I have my dream home in my mind but my wallet doesn't dream at the same income bracket. You would think I wanted a mansion. Actually, I want a nice humble home. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms with a spacious kitchen, living room, dining room and family room. A huge plus would be my own private pool. I love swimming. Freedom !

See? It doesn't seem too expensive right?

Magazine, novels, education, buying a home...am I leaving something out?

Oh yes! Family issues. Oh well I need another blog just for my family! :D

Politics! I think about our nation and its direction and I freak out!

What were people thinking went they went to vote? My mom always says that time is her best friend. I guess I will have to take that motto as well when it comes to our President. I don't know what it is about him but he bothers me. Perhaps it is the way he makes up new words for the dictionary. But hey, at least Webster's Dictionary must love him! Every new word and they have to give it a definition.

Maybe what bothers me is his inability to deal with his past. Or maybe to see the present.

Ok enough, my mind is spinning or splitting.

A New Beginning in the Blog World

Hello everyone!
This is my private blog. I tried using other programs but this one was the quickest and easiest one to set up and use. I have not slept. I should because I must be up at 5 in the morning to get ready for a blood test.
Unfortunately, I can't sleep. Some friends and family members disagree with me but I think it is wrong to starve Terri Schiavo simply because her husband, Michael, claims she wanted it that way. Blatant hearsay! Yet, every level of the government has denied the parents the ability to care for her.

In my column, Just My Bellybutton, from my online magazine www.audacitymagazine.com I write about my personal views on this situation.

But what is really keeping me from sleeping is America's ability to mix up its priorities. It appears that steroid use among professional mulitmillion dollar baseball players is way more pertinent to us than the fate of Terri Schiavo.

Of course, it is more important to hear what Jose Conseco has to say about his illegal drug use than to know that a woman will starve to death.

Perhaps if they were to give Terri a sleeping medication so she would die quickly and painlessly it would not appear so cruel. But no, let's add more salt to the wound and push this story on to the backburner because we need to discuss how overly paid athletes use steroids to excel in a sport.

It's times like these that I am soooo thrilled to be an American.

What next?