Friday, June 29, 2007

I MISS WILLIE

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This week has been crazy! On Wednesday we took Willie to a music camp he auditioned for and got a scholarship to. He was so excited. We went with him to his afternoon camp audition and then hung out for a few hours. We were by the lake and he said "Mom, I think I'm going to love this place." I volunteered to visit him on Sunday but he said he rather see what fun things they might have planned at camp. I was really proud of him. Then I did a dumb thing. I kissed him good-bye and started crying!

We decided THAT maybe I shouldn't leave just yet and we went for a Slushie instead. Nothing like a good sugar buzz to help you forgot your troubles. We were sharing our drink and he said "Mom, maybe you should come up on Sunday."

I took him back to his room and the boys were all playing dodge ball with an orange. Willie jumped right in the fun.

Before he left, he made the above Meez of me. It's pretty cute.

Dylan has been working out every morning from 7-9 AM, then rides his bike home and then has a gym class from noon to 4 PM. He is sooooooo mature. There was a nice story in the paper today about his ACT test score (34!!!) and the award he got from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.

Also this week I spoke to screenwriter, Gail Gilchriest, and found out today that we are booked to play the Art and Soul Festival in Oakland, CA!!!

Friday, June 22, 2007

GUITAR HERO

I took money I got from my book advance and bought the boys Guitar Hero. I pretty much HATE video games (except for DDR) but this game is actually very cool.

Both the boys play it. Willie grabbed me to listen to him play the Almond Brothers' "Jessica" and then Dylan ripped The Reverend Horton Heat's "Psychobilly Freakout".

I tried it. I suck. What a surprise.

So, there are six guitars in our house. I had to ask, "Does this make anyone want to learn how to play a REAL guitar?"

"Sort of" said Dylan.

So there is HOPE! YAY!

Thursday, June 21, 2007

RAMBLINGS


I turned in my 75% manuscript review early so I have been spending a lot of time researching the world of book marketing. I've created an author page. Check it out. I must admit, I am stoked for next year.
Willie is off to music camp next week. (He won a scholarship.) Dylan is going to summer school--taking care of his gym requirement so he can take a "Viz Technology" class in the fall. He also has soccer conditioning 3 days a week, a gaming camp and a soccer camp. I looked at our calendar and we have one week at the beginning of August where "nuttin's" going on.
The Mydols got asked to play at a festival in Oakland, CA today on Labor Day weekend...I heard from Paige today... I'm coordinating a Mom's Gone Wild Zoo Tour for next August/September...
I'm sort of rambling here. It's going to be a crazy summer!!

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

CHAMPIONS

Congrats Royal Oak Rampage, winners of Petoskey Soccer Tournament in the U14 Boys Division.

The boys worked hard and only allowed one goal. D-E-F-E-N-S-E!

And if that wasn't enough winning, on the long drive home we learned that Dylan won an "ultimate" party for 10 at the Zap Zone. He entered his name in a raffle. We're going to use the package to celebrate Willie's birthdday in July.




Thursday, June 14, 2007

THE ELDERLY


I helped my mother-in-law with her class reunion last weekend. She graduated in 1949 but the event covered anyone who went to Madison High School between 1935 and 1959.
It was well attended. All the oldtimers came out for the day and everyone brought a dish.
The elderly sure love their deviled eggs and Jello, but they can't hear or see. I had to bring my gig amp so we could make announcements. I have played in clubs and never turned the volume up past around "5" but for this Iot I turned it up to "10" and they still couldn't hear me.


Then I was working the "check in" table and some old man asked me what year I graduated. (I gave up my Sunday afternoon to be insulted.) When I told him '78. He said "YOU'RE 78?" I gave him his name tag so he could remember who he was and sent him on his way.



MY SONNY DISPOSITION

I was talking to my friend Laura today about doing some writers' workshops at Gilda's Club in the fall. Many of the members would like to share their experiences with cancer with their families and friends. I think I can inspire them to write.

I was telling Laura, "Look if I can be a writer, then anyone can. I have no training. No experience. But I have a story--that I think is a pretty good one--and I want to share it."

So far it's been easier than learning how to play guitar.

Then out of the blue, Laura told me that I remind her of Sonny Bono. Like me, Sonny was born in Detroit. He was Italian. (Me too.) A little spacey. And he never had a lot of musical talent. He did, however, have determination and a decent sense of humor.

Hey! He does sound like me.

In a few years--when menopause kicks in--I think I might try to grow a mustache like his.

Monday, June 11, 2007

ROCK STAR MOMMY

Last October (2006) my husband, John, and my sons went to a Michigan football game. I knew they would be gone all day so I tried to use my free time in the best way imaginable. I decided I wanted to write a book.

Another woman, a better woman, might have said to herself "My house is a mess." But not me. I don't have time for that.

I queried 4 book agents that day in October. I got responses from two saying they wanted to talk to me, an "I'm-too-busy" form letter from another, and I am still waiting to hear from the fourth.

I ended up going with the first women I sent an email to--Kate Epstein. It was a gut thing. Or maybe it was a lazy thing. Either way it was the right thing. (I picked my sons' caregiver the same way. I spoke to one person and fell in love with her and never made another phone call. And it was the best decision I ever made.)

I'm digressing here. So I got an agent, we wrote a proposal, sold it and today I got the cover art. And it's pretty damn cute and I'm in an extremely good mood.



Sunday, June 10, 2007

MEET THE MYDOLS

WHO ARE THE MYDOLS?
At an unlikely gathering of friends at a Memorial Day 2002 picnic, four suburban Detroit (where else?) moms watched as their husbands smoked cigars, talked sports and chased around their hopped-up-on-sugar kids and thought, "yeah, this can't be it". Having heard of an all-moms "battle of the bands" to take place on Mother's Day, 2003, and with some prodding from friends and colleagues, The Mydols were born. Of course, it didn't matter that nobody knew how to play an instrument; it was full speed ahead and never mind the laundry! That Fall, folks around town began to see posters at gas stations, restaurants, soccer fields, bars, bus stations, jails, firehouses and daycare centers announcing 'mom's night out' shows by The Mydols. With only a couple of months to learn and almost master their instruments and style, The Mydols began playing out.