Chop, Chop

[mrockwell]

Writing

*SALE! (reprint), Wondrous Web Worlds 6, 8/11 (RT: N/A)

I got an email from J Erwine over at The Fifth Di... saying that they want to reprint my poem "Mother Earth" in Wondrous Web Worlds 6. Gotta love those sales you're not even trying to make, heh.

I'm finally done with my first revision pass (and also with babysitting contractors -- coincidence?), and I cut 200+ words. So far, so good.

Everything Else

So, almost a month ago, EB broke his finger playing basketball in P.E. class. I got a call from the school nurse again yesterday afternoon, right before I was leaving to pick him up. I cringed when the first words out of her mouth were, "Your son was playing basketball in gym class today, when...." Sprained elbow and a head injury (luckily, not a concussion, but still requiring 24 hours of observation). Cursed? I think so.

Interesting thing #18: I didn't learn to drive until I was 21. Growing up, my family only had one car, which my step-dad needed to get to work. If I wanted to go somewhere, I walked, rode my bike, or rode the bus. Even if we could have afforded a second car, I didn't really see the point in it when I could get around fine without one. I always thought kids whose parents bought them cars were horribly spoiled. I still do.

Comments

[e-cunningham.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on the sales and the revision!

Commiserations on the latest injury. As a mother, I freaking HATE basketball. I don't know how many times I had to have the kids' various body parts X-rayed. Mostly elbows and fingers, but Andrew also needed an MRI on his knee, months of physical therapy for said knee followed by months of chiropractic care to try to straighten out his back after months of favoring that knee. By all means, encourage your kid to play tennis. :)

Step away from the basketball...

[saetter.livejournal.com]

Ping pong is a superior alternative to tennis. Less likely to slip on the court or take a ball to the nose. Or have an unfortunate and future generation impeding accident jumping the court net. Ping pong provides excellent upper body conditioning with the torso twists, and it aids hand eye co-ordination. The high school girls these days prize ping pong players over traditional athletes (dubbed "dumb jocks") because of the implied virility associated with the sport. Everyone wants to be a "ponger", but only a few can achieve this status with years of diligence and a rigorous training regimen.

/removes tongue from cheek before its placement is permanent

But seriously, tell EB to put the basketball down and step away. :)

[stillnotbored.livejournal.com]

Wooooo on the sale! That is awesome.

I know that kids have no choice when it comes to taking part in the P.E. sport of the month, but I truly think basketball should be banned before high school or college. Playing basketball in P.E. class in sixth and seventh grade the boychild broke his hand, re-broke his wrist, scraped the skin off the side of his face (the courts were outdoors on the blacktop), got knocked out and put his teeth completely through his bottom lip.

Not a fan of basketball in P.E. classes.

[(Anonymous)]

My wife and I have made it work with one car for the last 8.5 years. She insisted on a second car once our daughter was born and I started working across the river instead of five minutes from the house, which we purchased just a couple months ago. I could do a whole rant on our society's materialism and the differences between wants and needs. :P

- Kameron

[eimarra]

I got my driver's license at 23. "Walked, rode my bike, or rode the bus"--that about covers it.

Congrats on the sale!

-- Erin

[thefirespiral.livejournal.com]

I bought my own first car. I lived in a place where I really couldn't get anywhere without one, not that there was anyplace really to get. But it sure helped me drive the hell out of Podunkville the day after graduation...

[enna-aral.livejournal.com]

Congrats on getting thru that first pass on the back.

I'd agree about parents buying their kids cars, especially when I see what some of those kids are driving in college. (We're actually seeing Hummers this year now that the kids are moving back to campus. Don't know if they'll stay around, but even driving 'em to town to help your kid move is a bit [supply your own adjective].) But I grew up in a rural area, and my folks were nothing but relieved when I got my driver's license and could help out with running errands and running my younger brothers places. They owned the car and allowed me to use it as long as I took care of related expenses (gas and tune-ups) - and, of course, getting to drive was a privilege that could be taken away, no matter how much help having a third driver around was. That seemed fair to me then, and it seems fair to me now. -Lara