Poetry/Literature

I would very much like to self-publish a literary journal with a particular focus on poetry. I am currently looking for submissions of poetry, any genre or length, short fiction, and personal essays (without a political bent). Graphic art is also welcome. You will retain all rights, etc. and the work would have to be one that has not been previously published. Submissions are limited to 5 pgs. There would be no compensation, however a few more people might become familiar with your work (recognition of some kind is important for all writers...we all have egos, and some are easier to feed than others). I'm thinking of hawking them at the merch tables next to dh's cds and stickers. If you have any interest in this at all, please leave a comment and I'll give you my particulars. Thanks!

Easter and everything after

i didn't mean to start this blog and then abandon it in rapid succession, but it seems that i have. or at the very least, i've neglected it. the reason for this is that between spring cleaning, Easter prep, dh's shows and my crazy work schedule, I've just not been around. however, i may just use this blog as a tool to organize myself (as i'm quite certain that no one reads it anyway). for example, it has helped me with menu planning for Easter and the upcoming wedding, and i think i'll use it to help me plan the garden in a few days. my parents gave me a new bird bath for Easter, and i'm trying to figure out a spot where:
a. it'll look pretty
b. my uncle won't be able to shoot at the birds
c. i'll be able to see it from inside the house
so, i'll plan the garden around that. dh and some friends cut down a tree the other day so i'll have a little more light down by the lake, and i can plant some root veggies there. however, now people at the bbqs will have to stop throwing rib bones and cigarettes down there. bbqs have started up again and are in full force for the spring/summer. i believe we are having one tomorrow night due to the fact that a friend is in from out of town, and as a way of saying thank you to the friends who helped us cut down the tree in the side yard. also, we'll have a bonfire and clean up all the brush in the area, and it'll be a fun, social occasion as well.
Easter was great, a smashing success despite the odds. the MIL, dh & i went to sunrise service on the lake and it was beautiful, though very chilly. a few ducks even came over to hear the Good Word. however, the pastor flew through the service and it was not nearly as satisfying as it usually is. but it was nice to see the sun come up over the lake and sing hymns. then we had bkfst and went home to take a nap before tackling the great pierogi task. i think we made like a mountain of them, and still have enough leftovers to make about 2 dozen more, which we'll probably make and freeze tomorrow (handmade are better than mrs. t's or poppy's any day). i had made all of the baked goods (babka, blueberry cake, chocolate bourbon pecan pie, bunny cake) beforehand in the few days leading up to Easter, so that all i had to do in the morning was go to church, stick the ham and veggies in the over, do a quick once-over of the house and the linens, and make pierogi (dh helped; i daresay he enjoyed it). we had family and friends in and out of the house all day, from 1 to about 10:30. i fell asleep the second my head hit the pillow last night. while i should have stayed awake to finish the last of the dishes, i left the last few cups to wash this morning (and i'm sorry to say, i haven't gotten around to them yet) and made a beeline for the bed. a very joyous, very rewarding Easter with family and friends is a real blessing, and a real treat. dh helps me more than i recognize, and i'm afraid that i'd be lost without him (though i'd never tell him that)...

hectic home and work life

life has been incredibly hectic lately. sis and i are still planning and executing the party for our parents' silver anniversary, provided that the two of them do not kill one another first. but, the invitations are out (and some RSVPs have already come in!), the menu is planned, the decorations and tableware have been purchased, and (God willing) my father is writing his vows and finding someone to officiate. we are praying the the weather cooperates, since the ceremony itself will be held on the beach and much of the reception will be on the decks outside the house. if not, it's ok. we're family, we should be comfortable in close quarters.
that aside, dh has been playing sooo many shows on saturday nights (and we've been coming home at 2, 3, 4, sometimes 5 o clock) that we haven't been to church in a while, but we made it back this week and boy, was i glad to be there. we had a visiting pastor who was fantastic. i felt like i was in the 1920's, he was so animated and just so into what he was saying. it was a nice change of pace, not that there are any problems with our usual pastor (she's fantastic!), but it was a different experience, the way he preached. the entire order of the service was entirely different, but i was so caught up in what he was saying that i hardly noticed until it was over! my prayers go out to my pastor, who has been home with a chronic illness for several weeks now.
because it was so nice yesterday, dh used the first of his sick days and stayed at home with me. so i skipped the gym, didn't go to my parents' house (they called me today to say that they didn't miss me), and we took the pup on a nice, long hike for a few hours. after the kind of winter we've had, it felt amazing to be out in the warmth and sunlight for such an extended period of time. then when we got home we finally went out to see watchmen, which wasn't bad. i mean, it was no dark knight, but they can't all be, can they? it was good for a superhero movie, and i'd really like to read the "graphic novel" (read: comic book) on which it is based. but i also discovered at my local movie theater that it is possible to move the armrest out of the way entirely for extra movie cuddling and romance! still, i have to admit that i like the drive-in better...there's nothing better for romance than a blanket and some chinese food and being able to bring the pup along with you (that was mostly sarcasm, but the drive-in is still my favorite date spot)! it is always nice to spend some quality time with the dh when he isn't too busy being a rock star.
this weekend dh, most of the band, a good friend from out of town and i are going to the opening day at 6 flags and i'm soooo excited! i missed out on most of the rides last year, and this year i'm determined to go even if it's only this once.
spring cleaning is still not finished, but it is well underway. the extra wedding stuff in the brown room, a bag of goodies for the food pantry on the kitchen counter, a contractor bag full of kids books and art supplies and all of the band's paperwork and flyer copies need to be dealt with as soon as possible, but i have nowhere else to put them for now! hopefully by the time i post next i'll have crossed a few more items off of my spring cleaning to-do list!