It's now 11:00pm and I'm sitting in my living room feeling like it's the holidays.

Today was a really stressful day. It's hot and humid, so I piled the kids in the car and went to buy an air conditioner for our little apartment. Got it home, unpacked it and went to get some tools to stabilize it in the window and my youngest girl (19 months old) went to the kitchen to play with some blocks.

She just started being able to get the one drawer in the kitchen open Sunday. Everything in the apartment is childproofed, except for this drawer, but after Sunday's entry attempt I had planned on trying to do something with it. I only had a roll of Handiwrap and some paper bags and other miscellaneous odds and ends in it, and really didn't worry about it as she's never bothered it before.

Today she pulls out the Handiwrap. She ran her index finger right across the jagged edge of the cutting strip and sliced - no ripped it open. She's sitting in a pool of blood crying, and I freak out. I try to calm her down and clot the blood with a towel, but she wouldn't have any of it. Blood is everywhere while I'm trying to figure out what to do.

I called 911. Two officers arrived first. They calmed her down better than I could. I felt like such an idiot. Finally, the paramedics arrive and they help me clot the cut and put some bandages on it. It was just a small cut, but in a spot that bleeds well.  When that was over, I find one of the police officers is sitting with my oldest daughter (2.5 years) playing with her drawing tablet having a grand time. I thank them profusely, they leave, I clean up all the blood and my kid is okay.

So I'm sitting here tonight, writing, and this officer pounds on my door. He's loaded down with about $75 worth of toys and a $10 gift card for me! I couldn't believe it. I never expected such a thing. So when the kids wake up in the morning, I'll have to decide which toys come out first. Maybe I'll use them as bribery for potty training. heh

I am still shocked over how generous they were, and still feel like the world's worst mother. Now I have to figure out if I should bake them something down at the police department or just send a thank you card.

Posted June 19, 2006; 11:30pm EST

Here's a new market for Flash Fiction, 1000 words or less: DiddleDog.com with a link to my recently accepted work.

I was also informed one of my poems will be in a new coffee-table anthology titled Susan B and Me.  The book will be full of reflections on the female experience (boy I've had enough of those!) and is dedicated to the spirit of women's rights, of which Susan B Anthony was a strong supporter.

I am in my 4th edit of my manuscript.  Hopefully #5 will be the last.  I have one agent that is interested in reading a few chapters.  This is a step in the right direction, and will hopefully lead to a nice publishing deal.  I will write more about that as I have info.

I know I haven't been posting much lately, but I've been busy with life lately.  Have a great weekend.

Posted June 9, 2006; 4:45pm EST