Today is Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Hello, everyone!
I just got an e-mail from The Writer's Institute in Madison, Wis., and I'm so excited! I went to this two-day conference last year, and it was great. The sessions are very good, and there are plenty of opportunities to network with people.
If anyone is going to be in the area July 21-22 and is interested in signing up, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be there. It would be a great opportunity to network with any taphophiles interested in Epitaphs Magazine and more.
The cost if you sign up by June 27 is only $205. After that, I think it's $225. This is super-cheap for seminars like this one. Hotel rooms are extra.
The Writer's Institute brings all sorts of agents, publishers and authors together in one conference center. I'm including the link to their site below. They offer great programs throughout the year, and some are even online.
http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/lsa/writing/wbtl.htm
If any of you decide to attend, please e-mail me and let me know!
Minda
poetrychick_99@yahoo.com
www.TheCemeteryClub.com
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Saturday, April 23, 2005
It is Saturday, April 23, 2005
PROCRASTINATION STATION
To all the people I have told throughout my life that I don't like taking naps, today I am a liar. Not only did I sleep in until the ridiculous hour of 11:30 a.m., I also took two incredibly long naps. The truth still is that I do not like naps. I wake up like a lobotomy patient from them. Plus, it's 6 p.m. (CST). My day is shot. Ack.
But it all goes with today's post theme. Procrastination. I have been seeming slacker girl lately. So I'd like to redeem myself with a bit of info regarding what's been going on to make me such a procrastinator.
Work stuff. That's self-explanatory enough. We all have it, and it gets in the way of things. I'm talking my day job stuff. I love my job, though it can be taxing and rather a pain in the butt. We've been dealing with many changes during the past year, and it's been just weird. End of that story.
Health stuff. I was attacked by the plague within the past few months, and it ran me ragged. You probably know what I'm talking about ... the respiratory/flu/cold/nastiness that had taken over for a while. It was the type of being sick where you couldn't do a damn thing to really get over it and could hardly manage to get your daily tasks done, either. So book, Web site and magazine production stuff came to a near stand-still. On top of that, there were some family health scares. All is now well, but it was a little scary for a while. Also not conducive to book writing. Especially when you are writing a book about cemeteries and death. It was a little much for me at the time.
So those were the major things. Then I think I had a "third -of-life crisis" for a few days (I'm only 32). My husband and I and some friends went to see the Duran Duran concert on March 23 (whoa! a month ago today!). It was awesome. LOVED IT! They were just as amazing as I had always hoped they'd be. You see, though they were my all-time favorite band, this was the first time I'd seen them live. I was only 11 or 12 or so when they were huge, and we had no local concert venue of their caliber at the time. I never even thought about being able to see them live. My first concert wan't until years later.
Anyway, we went to see them. They sounded great, looked great. It was GREAT. I loved their new stuff ("Astronaut" is a killer album). I was reliving my music glory days and obsession with my favorite band. I bought a bunch of their CDs and DVDs that I never had growing up. It brought back the glory of the 80s and my best memories of the time for me. It was a blast! Then it started to hit me--this all happened 20 years ago. Twenty!!! Children have been born and raised into adults in that amount of time! My youth has become RETRO!!! I went in to a Hot Topic store at the mall to pick up a few things and saw a couple pairs of earrings for sale that I used to own in the 80s!
Now all of this is not really a big deal. I don't mind getting older. I really don't. Age is just a number and a symbol of pride--it means we've made it. We've made it through another year of change and growth. So this feeling was very different for me. It was probably due to being sick so long with the cold/flu from hell, having a health scare of my own and worrying about the health of my loved ones that got to me. And earlier this year I had knee surgery, so that was making me feel a bit decrepit. Knee surgery at 32, and it's not like I'm a decathalon athlete. My main physical activities include taking morning walks, photographing cemeteries and typing on my computer. What a wild life!
So it was bugging me. I would sit down to work, and have no motivation. I'd force myself, but that's not the way to write. Fortunately, I've gotten over it and have gotten my mojo back. Thank goodness! And then yesterday I realized that this year is my 15th high school reunion ... but I don't mind. I told you I'm over it. And I can hear all of you. "Ooh, 15th. Big deal! I've got my 25th/30th/35th coming up!" Don't worry. I'll get there.
Anyway, here are some updates regarding the book, magazine, etc.
- The book will most likely be out in the fall now. I'm wrapping up each of the chapters right now. Then I will pass it on to my two editors. I was freaking out over it not being "on time," but then I realized that it's no big deal. I'm SELF-publishing, for crying out loud! It's my timeline! In that case, there is no such thing as late. Plus, all my fans will be supportive and wait. ;-)
- The magazine is still plugging along. I'm still receiving submissions and advertisements. Editing will begin very soon. Production is just about ready. We are still shooting for July. Stay tuned! And keep sending us things! We've received great stuff so far!
- The site needs some updates. I plan to add more photos, but this will come once the final photos are selected for "Cemetery Walk." Please be patient. Other updates have been only posted once in a while. Things will pick up soon. Thank you for your support. More is coming soon.
That's what has been going on. Thank you for being so supportive and excited. Even on the tough days, all of you taphophiles keep me going!
All the best to all of you,
Minda
www.TheCemeteryClub.com
PROCRASTINATION STATION
To all the people I have told throughout my life that I don't like taking naps, today I am a liar. Not only did I sleep in until the ridiculous hour of 11:30 a.m., I also took two incredibly long naps. The truth still is that I do not like naps. I wake up like a lobotomy patient from them. Plus, it's 6 p.m. (CST). My day is shot. Ack.
But it all goes with today's post theme. Procrastination. I have been seeming slacker girl lately. So I'd like to redeem myself with a bit of info regarding what's been going on to make me such a procrastinator.
Work stuff. That's self-explanatory enough. We all have it, and it gets in the way of things. I'm talking my day job stuff. I love my job, though it can be taxing and rather a pain in the butt. We've been dealing with many changes during the past year, and it's been just weird. End of that story.
Health stuff. I was attacked by the plague within the past few months, and it ran me ragged. You probably know what I'm talking about ... the respiratory/flu/cold/nastiness that had taken over for a while. It was the type of being sick where you couldn't do a damn thing to really get over it and could hardly manage to get your daily tasks done, either. So book, Web site and magazine production stuff came to a near stand-still. On top of that, there were some family health scares. All is now well, but it was a little scary for a while. Also not conducive to book writing. Especially when you are writing a book about cemeteries and death. It was a little much for me at the time.
So those were the major things. Then I think I had a "third -of-life crisis" for a few days (I'm only 32). My husband and I and some friends went to see the Duran Duran concert on March 23 (whoa! a month ago today!). It was awesome. LOVED IT! They were just as amazing as I had always hoped they'd be. You see, though they were my all-time favorite band, this was the first time I'd seen them live. I was only 11 or 12 or so when they were huge, and we had no local concert venue of their caliber at the time. I never even thought about being able to see them live. My first concert wan't until years later.
Anyway, we went to see them. They sounded great, looked great. It was GREAT. I loved their new stuff ("Astronaut" is a killer album). I was reliving my music glory days and obsession with my favorite band. I bought a bunch of their CDs and DVDs that I never had growing up. It brought back the glory of the 80s and my best memories of the time for me. It was a blast! Then it started to hit me--this all happened 20 years ago. Twenty!!! Children have been born and raised into adults in that amount of time! My youth has become RETRO!!! I went in to a Hot Topic store at the mall to pick up a few things and saw a couple pairs of earrings for sale that I used to own in the 80s!
Now all of this is not really a big deal. I don't mind getting older. I really don't. Age is just a number and a symbol of pride--it means we've made it. We've made it through another year of change and growth. So this feeling was very different for me. It was probably due to being sick so long with the cold/flu from hell, having a health scare of my own and worrying about the health of my loved ones that got to me. And earlier this year I had knee surgery, so that was making me feel a bit decrepit. Knee surgery at 32, and it's not like I'm a decathalon athlete. My main physical activities include taking morning walks, photographing cemeteries and typing on my computer. What a wild life!
So it was bugging me. I would sit down to work, and have no motivation. I'd force myself, but that's not the way to write. Fortunately, I've gotten over it and have gotten my mojo back. Thank goodness! And then yesterday I realized that this year is my 15th high school reunion ... but I don't mind. I told you I'm over it. And I can hear all of you. "Ooh, 15th. Big deal! I've got my 25th/30th/35th coming up!" Don't worry. I'll get there.
Anyway, here are some updates regarding the book, magazine, etc.
- The book will most likely be out in the fall now. I'm wrapping up each of the chapters right now. Then I will pass it on to my two editors. I was freaking out over it not being "on time," but then I realized that it's no big deal. I'm SELF-publishing, for crying out loud! It's my timeline! In that case, there is no such thing as late. Plus, all my fans will be supportive and wait. ;-)
- The magazine is still plugging along. I'm still receiving submissions and advertisements. Editing will begin very soon. Production is just about ready. We are still shooting for July. Stay tuned! And keep sending us things! We've received great stuff so far!
- The site needs some updates. I plan to add more photos, but this will come once the final photos are selected for "Cemetery Walk." Please be patient. Other updates have been only posted once in a while. Things will pick up soon. Thank you for your support. More is coming soon.
That's what has been going on. Thank you for being so supportive and excited. Even on the tough days, all of you taphophiles keep me going!
All the best to all of you,
Minda
www.TheCemeteryClub.com
Thursday, April 14, 2005
It's 4-14-05
It's getting to be a good time of year for taphophiles. The weather is getting warmer, the sun is shining ... and we can now "dig in" at our favorite cemeteries! Warm up those digital cameras and start taking photos, friends! And then submit them to "Epitaphs"! ;-)
Submissions keep coming in. Thank you to everyone who has been enthusiastic about the magazine. It's really keeping me going and inspiring me. Keep it up, everyone!
Since I'm off work for the long weekend, I'll be working on (finishing???) "Cemetery Walk." And doing some spring cleaning. And hopefully some spring unloading. Time to get rid of stuff we don't need. There is a group called Project Renewal that offers after-school programs for disadvantaged children. My plan is to donate a bunch of things to them. Every cent they get donated to them goes to the kids. How great is that?
Time to get to work! Enjoy the day!
Minda
www.TheCemeteryClub.com
It's getting to be a good time of year for taphophiles. The weather is getting warmer, the sun is shining ... and we can now "dig in" at our favorite cemeteries! Warm up those digital cameras and start taking photos, friends! And then submit them to "Epitaphs"! ;-)
Submissions keep coming in. Thank you to everyone who has been enthusiastic about the magazine. It's really keeping me going and inspiring me. Keep it up, everyone!
Since I'm off work for the long weekend, I'll be working on (finishing???) "Cemetery Walk." And doing some spring cleaning. And hopefully some spring unloading. Time to get rid of stuff we don't need. There is a group called Project Renewal that offers after-school programs for disadvantaged children. My plan is to donate a bunch of things to them. Every cent they get donated to them goes to the kids. How great is that?
Time to get to work! Enjoy the day!
Minda
www.TheCemeteryClub.com
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
4-12-05
As you can see, I'm trying to figure out how to post photos on here. I'll get it figured out one day. :-)
For now, here is an upcoming event in New England:
Connecticut Gravestone Network Symposium 2005
Saturday – April 23 - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Middlefield Senior Center
405 Main St.
Middlefield, CT
Hosted by The Middlefield Historical Society
Displays & exhibits from various historic groups,and
vendors
with books and cemetery novelties items.
Lecture Topics include:
“Mourning Quilts - Women’s Work: Making Burial,
Coffin, and
Casket Quilts”
“The Portland Quarry in Middletown”
“One of our Colonial Carvers”
“An Introduction to Middlefield History and Their Old
North
Burying Ground”
Lunch-snacks & beverages will be available
Admission: $10 to public $5 for CGN members
Payable at the door
Directions: Middlefield Senior Center, Middlefield, CT
Located off of Rt. 66 between Middletown and Meriden
at the
junction of Rt. 157 & Jackson Hill Rd. - behind the
Firehouse.
Entrance is across from The Congregational Church &
Cemetery
Contact: Ruth Shapleigh-Brown - shapbrown@cox.net
Please address subject line as SYMP INFO
CGN
135 Wells St.
Manchester, CT. 06040-6127
ph: 860-643-5652
For more details go to: www.ctgravestones.com
As you can see, I'm trying to figure out how to post photos on here. I'll get it figured out one day. :-)
For now, here is an upcoming event in New England:
Connecticut Gravestone Network Symposium 2005
Saturday – April 23 - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Middlefield Senior Center
405 Main St.
Middlefield, CT
Hosted by The Middlefield Historical Society
Displays & exhibits from various historic groups,and
vendors
with books and cemetery novelties items.
Lecture Topics include:
“Mourning Quilts - Women’s Work: Making Burial,
Coffin, and
Casket Quilts”
“The Portland Quarry in Middletown”
“One of our Colonial Carvers”
“An Introduction to Middlefield History and Their Old
North
Burying Ground”
Lunch-snacks & beverages will be available
Admission: $10 to public $5 for CGN members
Payable at the door
Directions: Middlefield Senior Center, Middlefield, CT
Located off of Rt. 66 between Middletown and Meriden
at the
junction of Rt. 157 & Jackson Hill Rd. - behind the
Firehouse.
Entrance is across from The Congregational Church &
Cemetery
Contact: Ruth Shapleigh-Brown - shapbrown@cox.net
Please address subject line as SYMP INFO
CGN
135 Wells St.
Manchester, CT. 06040-6127
ph: 860-643-5652
For more details go to: www.ctgravestones.com
It's April 12, 2005, and I am breathing new life into my old blog.
This originally was the blog for the first incarnation of the Cemetery Club, which was a fledgling ghost hunting/enthusiast group. We met a couple of times, but it didn't get very far due to schedules being so wack-a-do. So I'm turning it into the official blog for TheCemeteryClub.com.
If you have found this page, you have found TheCemeteryClub.com, no doubt. And you just may know about all the recent fun that has been taking place. Here's a brief recap:
- TheCemeteryClub.com site has been expanded and improved and all the rest of that fun stuff.
- My book "Cemetery Walk" is coming along swimmingly. Projected publication date is September.
- The new magazine "Epitaphs" has been announced. It's "for cemetery lovers by cemetery lovers." The first issue is expected to be released this July. Submissions can be sent to me, the editor, at poetrychick_99@yahoo.com. To learn more about submitting, buying ads, etc., go to www.TheCemeteryClub.com/magazine.html.
- Our interview_taphophile Yahoo list has grown. It is now the official info and chat list of the Web site. If you haven't signed up yet, what are you waiting for?
Those are the latest on what's been going on. Now if I can only figure out what this URL is so I can put the link on my site ....
Later!
Minda
www.TheCemeteryClub.com
This originally was the blog for the first incarnation of the Cemetery Club, which was a fledgling ghost hunting/enthusiast group. We met a couple of times, but it didn't get very far due to schedules being so wack-a-do. So I'm turning it into the official blog for TheCemeteryClub.com.
If you have found this page, you have found TheCemeteryClub.com, no doubt. And you just may know about all the recent fun that has been taking place. Here's a brief recap:
- TheCemeteryClub.com site has been expanded and improved and all the rest of that fun stuff.
- My book "Cemetery Walk" is coming along swimmingly. Projected publication date is September.
- The new magazine "Epitaphs" has been announced. It's "for cemetery lovers by cemetery lovers." The first issue is expected to be released this July. Submissions can be sent to me, the editor, at poetrychick_99@yahoo.com. To learn more about submitting, buying ads, etc., go to www.TheCemeteryClub.com/magazine.html.
- Our interview_taphophile Yahoo list has grown. It is now the official info and chat list of the Web site. If you haven't signed up yet, what are you waiting for?
Those are the latest on what's been going on. Now if I can only figure out what this URL is so I can put the link on my site ....
Later!
Minda
www.TheCemeteryClub.com
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