Things I am Thankful for, a.k.a. moving on and moving up

Well, if everyone out there hasn't guessed by my lack of posts lately, it's been a crazy time of letting go and drastic changes for me. And the whole whirlwind that's become my life lately really made me think this Thanksgiving about exactly what it is that I'm thankful for.

In a matter of a month, I've probably experienced every emotion in the book, from sadness to excitement to loneliness to anger....In a matter of a month I've gone from preparing to get engaged to having to cope with being bitter and single, and then wondering if I'm bitter because I'm single or if I'm just bitter....I think I'm just bitter. The whole being lied to thing is never fun, and I don't recommend it. That's all I'll say about that. Anyway, at this point I'm just trying to figure out how I can move from bitter to better, and I guess the fact that I can even sit back and say that it's possible to make something better out of a break-up is cause for thanks. Also I should probably be thankful that I have self-worth enough to be honest with others, self-esteem enough not to need the approval of some loser guy, and self-pride enough to recognize the value of living an authentic life. An authentic life without getting plastic surgeries and resorting to becoming the trashy "other woman". Unlike some people I know. I'm just thankful to be myself, and to know that being myself is enough.

I'm utterly and endlessly grateful for the friends and family who've helped me cope with all of my crazy life-changes. For the sister who stood in the backyard with me over the fire-pit the night of the big break-up, lighter fluid in hand, helping me literally burn the rest of his shit and anything material that reminded me of him. I definitely recommend a good lie-burning! Very cathartic.

In the matter of a month I also find myself happily employed at an up-and-coming TV network, when before I was broke as hell and wondering when I'd have to turn in my application to work retail or to join the hordes of English majors-turned-Baristas. Well, I now have a job that's fast-paced, interesting, and has pretty much nothing to do with being an English major....but it's something that I enjoy more and more everyday, which is a good thing. So I'm thankful for this wonderful new opportunity, I'm thankful to finally be making some money, and I'm definitely thankful for the amazing friend who got me this job in the first place.

I guess the saying 'whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger' has some truth behind it. The crazy stuff that's happened so quickly lately is hard to deal with, of course, but at the same time I know that I'll be better off having gone through this. I guess it's good to be able to reconnect with yourself and remember what it is that makes you YOU in the first place. I know now that I will never let go of the people in my life who truly love me and support me. And as for those who don't - fuck 'em. The only thing that matters in life is that you're living your life authentically, achieving what you want to achieve, and remaining grateful for all of the good things that come your way and, though they suck, all of the bad shit too.

And besides, when things go wrong, you can take solace in writing. Never mess with a writer - am I right?

a mini-rant (a.k.a. now what?)

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving holiday...All I can say is that I am glad mine included apple pie.

A literary question for fellow poets/prose writers: What does one do when a journal fails to send contributors' copies as promised?

Oh...I won't mention any names.

Let's just say that some half dozen emails and several promises later said copies (published around six months ago) have not arrived.

This irritates me.

Do I just let it go? I am tired, tired, tired of asking.

Yet it seems screwy that I never got them.

I suppose it's all part of the (sometimes thankless) writing life.

website update

Hello all!

I've added a bit more information about our submission guidelines here. Please note we are now accepting work for the Summer 2008 issue.

I've also updated the about blossombones page, incorporating a bit more information about what Melissa and I like in terms of our editorial tastes.

Hope this information is helpful!

Feel free to drop us an email if you have any questions.

The month of November is looking a little sparse, in terms of posts. Figured I'd just stop by and ramble on a bit. This has been one of those crazy periods where everything seems to be happening at once (Melissa--I imagine you could say the same!).

I saw much of the extended family this week, although I often wonder why it takes a funeral to get everyone together. My grandmother (and last remaining grandparent) passed away last week at the age of 89. She was a devout Irish-Catholic woman who raised six sons and loved musicals. In true Irish fashion (when it comes to saying goodbye in style) My uncles sang the theme song to OKLAHOMA at her gravesite. Riotous. She will be missed.

***

Am also muddling through marathon-length meetings, caring for an increasingly aging dog, and what often feels like both domestic and professional chaos.

Plans for grad school remain on the backburner, for now.

I think I'd just like to let life continue to surprise me, for a bit. (So long as at least some of the unexpectedness is good stuff! Is that asking for too much? I think not!)

I have managed to do a bit of reading, as well. I've just finished The Bell Jar, which has left me feeling a bit disaffected and Plath-y.

I also finished Frances Driscoll's amazing book, The Rape Poems. I found it to be both fierce and beautiful. If you pick it up and begin to read, you simply will not be able to set it down until you've read the whole thing.

I've done a little writing, too. I'd love to post something, but I tend to be hesitant about posting my work to the blog, in case I'd like to send it out somewhere that might take offense or consider it to be "previously published." So instead, I thought I'd post a little cento that combines the lines of a few of my recent poems.

Playing with words is so much fun.

Cento for the sword daughter

She must weigh every footstep
in a drop of hail,
her witchskin green beneath
canvas spattered with bees: tell
that siren--she's
denouement. A train in low light.

Check out some goodness....

So, much has happened in my life since I last posted - too much to type in one blog entry, actually. While I take time to process everything, I figured I'd treat everyone to the new issue of Wicked Alice! Both Susan and I have poems in the issue, as do some other wonderful poets!

Enjoy!

it's been way too long since I've posted...

so I'm popping in to give a quick update on things.

First, we've got a great selection of poetry and prose coming. We're still reading and selecting pieces but I hope to have all things finalized over the next few weeks.

:)

I do plan to update the website with some more specific submission guidelines sometime next week.

After that it's all going to snowball rather quickly, I suspect!

I'm pretty excited about both the look and (of course!) the content of our inaugural issue! Look for a few little changes along the way, before we go online in January. I'm hoping to spiff up the blog a bit, as well.

Apologies for the lack of posts this week...things have been busy! I just got back from a little road trip up to Wisconsin last weekend, and I'm still catching up on things...

reading period(s) for blossombones

Just in case I don't get the chance to update the website until next week (which seems likely considering my current schedule), I'm posting reminders about our reading period(s).

Unless we've written to you personally, today is the last day to submit work to be considered for the Fall/Winter issue of blossombones.

Keep in mind that we do have rolling submissions, and work received between November 2nd and May 1st will be considered for the Spring/Summer issue. (So even if you've missed the November deadline, please do consider submitting for the next issue.)

I hope to post a complete list of contributors by mid-December at the latest (about a month before the issue goes online).

If you haven't heard from us yet, expect an email within the next six weeks!