Archives for July 2011

She Might Be Addicted

July 11, 2011 by Amy 4 Comments

The other day I was going back and forth between rooms cleaning and doing laundry. Really! I was! I noticed Emma had been watching TV for awhile (hence the cleaning and laundry) so I said, “Emma, you need to turn the TV off.”

I finished at the washer and came back through. She was on my computer at my desk.

“Off my computer.” I said and kept on going back to the bedroom.

When I came back through she was sitting on the couch playing a game on her DS. I said, “Emma! Get off your DS and go play.”

She came over to sit with me where I had stopped to check my phone and said, “Can I play on your phone?”

After I affirmed she couldn’t she said, “Can I play the Wii then?”

”For goodness sakes, no!”

Positive

July 8, 2011 by Amy 7 Comments

I can’t let this week go by without mentioning here that we submitted our adoption papers. To be honest, it was done without much fanfare. I took it myself to the post office when I got off work on Tuesday. It seems so simple. Just an envelope addressed a town away. Just another package in the carrier’s bag. Just another piece of mail to open in an office. But we all know it’s so much more.

It’s another official YES. Yes, we really mean it. Yes, we want to help. Yes, we’re opening our home. Yes, we want to save you. Or save us, may it be. Yes, we want you as our son. When I get to thinking on it (sorry, I’ve been reading The Help and have begun thinking like Aibileen), I get super emotional. Somewhere our son is out there. And that sounds sweet until you think that the only way we get him is if he gets abused or neglected. In a weird way, sometimes I pray that we never meet him. Not because I don’t want to but because I want his parent(s) to shape up and treat him like he deserves.

It’s a little overwhelming but honestly when I think of it it’s like some big black hole. We have no idea what we’re walking into but somehow that darkness isn’t scary. It’s peaceful. I don’t get worry in the pit of my stomach. Just peace. I’m not naive enough to think it will be peaceful but there is peace.

So this week the proverbial ball got to rollin’. I’m told it will be another 6 months or so before all the interviews and inspections are done and we’re approved. They say adoption is like a paper pregnancy. So I suppose this week it’s like two little lines showed up.

Just tell me I can start eating all the ice cream and chocolate I want and we’re going to be juuust fine.

Book Review: How to Market and Sell Your eBook

July 6, 2011 by Amy Leave a Comment

If you ask me, eBooks are becoming the new blogs. I see them popping up everywhere from blog authors. Instead of trying to make money off the pennies from advertising, they’re bundling all the info up and making more on one eBook than traditional authors make. It’s smart. And it’s good for the readers. No longer do you have to sift through categories and searches on a blog when you want someone’s expertise in written form.

eBooks aren’t just pervading the blogging world. Many non-techie people I know in real life are buying Kindles and iPads and are ditching paper books for the eBook.

And so. I’m a blogger. And a reader. And yes, I’m tossing around the idea of an eBook. And when I saw Sarah Mae had made over $20,000 on one eBook on cleaning, my ears perked up. I couldn’t wait to read her latest eBook on, well, how to sell an eBook.

As a techie, I kept hoping for more technical instructions on how to do the thing but Sarah Mae is quick to let you know she’s definitely not a techie and relies on paid help. Other than that, I felt like the book was straight to the point and well-written. I particularly liked:

Her tip on getting a sponsor to pay for the book
Details on getting it on Amazon
Recommendations on who she actually used for help

If you are thinking about writing an eBook I highly recommend this read. Sarah Mae’s techniques obviously are proven and hope to one day put them to work!

Weekend Recap

July 5, 2011 by Amy 6 Comments

I’ve failed to blog most of last week not because I haven’t had time or had nothing to say. In fact, it was because I had so much to say that I stayed away. It was quite the emotional week, what with the new puppy, an eye-opening meeting at work, a huge (HUGE. I can not stress this enough) meltdown from Lexi about my job and her hatred (yes hatred) of it and oh, my PMS to exaggerate any small detail. Yes, it was nothing but drama from which you were spared.

We spent this weekend in Maryland for a family reunion and a mid-year visit to see family. A four day weekend spent with my family really could not have dropped in my lap at a better time. The girls have been stuck like super glue to me and really, it’s overwhelming at times but much-needed and wanted. We had a great time visiting family, eating together, going to see fireworks, watching movies and generally being lazy around the pool.

I hope you had a wonderful 4th!