Actually I’d like to get in a quick call for submissions while I’m still on the clock, as it were. And by submissions, I mean quality submissions, please! We’re still getting as many actual submissions as ever–we’ve received over 600 poems so far this reading period. Unfortunately, most of them have been terrible and/or in free verse. Sigh! On the plus side, now I have my wonderful Assistant Editor, I don’t have to read all of them. On the negative side, the only way I can put together a high quality journal is if I get high quality poems! Look, people, I know how hard it is to get formal poetry published, so I know all you formalists out there are sitting on a bunch of unpublished metrical verse. Send some of it our way, please! (And remember: editors often choose the poems YOU like the least…)
I went to the Doctor’s for my annual check up this morning, and I bristled when the receptionist asked me if I was unemployed or a housewife. I wanted to say “Neither!” Hey, I am the head of a publishing empire, here! (And ask my husband how much housewifery he’s ever seen me engaged in!) But of course I didn’t.
Seriously, I’d rather cop to the description “Mother” than “Housewife.” Mothering is a part of my life that I try not to skimp on. This school year I have to collect Becky from school at 2.50 p.m. four days a week in order to have her at Gymnastics Practice at 3.30. (Note: I probably could not do this if I were “Employed.”) On Mondays I pick her up, then drive to Bordentown to collect her friend and team-mate, Abby, at 3.15 p.m. and get them BOTH to the gym for around 3.40 p.m. (Note: Abby’s Mom and my good friend, who is a single parent, IS necessarily employed.) Lorna is also feeling a little overwhelmed by fifth grade right now, and requires lots of attention in the morning and handholding over homework. Yesterday I didn’t get her to school until 10 a.m. after another late night doing homework. This evening I am planning to sit with her until it’s done (after I get back from dropping Becky, of course) and aim to get her in bed by 9 p.m.
Why am I so cranky? I don’t know. I think I should go and get a cup of tea.
If you want I will make an appointment with your doctor and when the receptionist ask me what my occupation is… I will tell her I am a house wife… it’s a labor of love! Being a mother and a loving wife is very hard work but well worth it. It sounds like your children will not be joining any gangs! (Which is my Halloween costume this year …”The world’s oldest gangster”… complete with my depends diapers hanging out of my pants) Reading bad poetry will make you cranky…I got your link from the Burlington County Poets… I like your work! I am interested in getting my poems published… I am also working on the first of four novels that I want to write. I want to know if I am worthy. I will not be able to make the October 17 seminar. Where may I submit some poems? I will try not to make you cranky!
Comment by Raymond F Baldorossi Jr — October 14, 2009 @ 5:55 am