Author Archives: Mindy

Living: Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Posted on by

 

A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz. — Humphrey Bogart 

A few weeks ago we got to take my little guy to his first Major League Baseball game. The sun was shining, the seats were great and the Nationals won. My guy got to have popcorn and his first Cracker Jacks. He was thrilled when his daddy told him he could have "his very own Sprite"–a rare treat in our house. My guy munched and cheered up until the seventh inning stretch, when we decided to go ahead and head home. It was the perfect way to start our summer! 

Freelancing: Clearing My Plate

Posted on by

I’ve turned in the last of my articles, wrapped up a few lingering story questions with an editor and sent out my latest batch of invoices, which means it is time for this little baby to arrive. I still have a few weeks before her official due date, but now would be a great time for her to come. I’m not used to being still. I do have one assignment that will be due in late July and run in August, so I’m debating whether I should start lining up interviews or just sit back and wait for baby girl to arrive and then jump in. Of course, getting some interviews lined up for next week will be one sure way to guarantee she makes her appearance! 

Living: Simple Joys from the Weekend

Posted on by



-Having an indoor marshmallow roast with my boys (marshmallows city style, as my hubby says).

-Enjoying brunch with a friend and indulging in strawberry waffles, plenty of bacon and eggs benedict.

-Checking a whole bunch of things off of my to-do list. 

-Getting spicy Thai food with my hubby in an effort to induce labor (it didn’t work). 

-Celebrating my birthday with my boys.

-Having Evan help me unwrap my presents, the same ones he picked out and helped wrap, and seeing the excitement on his face when he ‘discovered’ what each one was. He picked out cupcake mix and sprinkles, which means I’ll get to have another simple joy when we make the sweet treats. 

Living: A Favorite Quote

Posted on by

"There are some things which cannot be learned quickly, and time, which is all we have, must be paid heavily for their acquiring. They are the very simplest things and because it takes a man’s life to know them the little new that each man gets from life is very costly and the only heritage he has to leave." – Ernest Hemingway, Death in the Afternoon 

 

Freelancing: Teaching Aspirations

Posted on by
In my early 20s I wrote a series of articles about how the Utah State Prison was using education and vocational training to reduce the recidivism rate in the men’s prison. This involved a number of trips to the prison, eating lunch with inmates and sitting in on some of their classes. 
 
On one of my last visits, the program director asked me if I would be interested in teaching a writing course for the inmates. I was young and naïve and certain I could change the world one person at a time. The thought that I could do this through the power of writing made the opportunity even more appealing. 
 
I was about to jump at the chance and had just started to ask how soon I could start when the director piped up again: “Sometimes we need to dangle a carrot in front of these guys to get them to come to class and a young, pretty girl like you would be quite a carrot for us.”  
 
Needless to say, my career as a writing instructor was born and died within the span of six minutes. 
 

Living: Happy Weekending

Posted on by
My hubby and I have a special weekend-o-fun planned for our little guy. We told him about our plan earlier this week and he has woken up each day since then asking if its Saturday.
 
With only a few more weekends until our little girl is slated to arrive, I want to try to make the most of the solo time we have left with my guy. I’m not going to spill the beans on our weekend plans just yet—I already feel like I am tempting fate by daring to make plans this close to my due date.  But I promise to post some pics next week.  We’re going to try to squeeze in every ounce of fun we can—the errands, home repairs and cleaning can wait. If you visit my house next week and it isn’t quite in order, I’ll just tell you you’ll have to excuse us because we were out making memories. 
 
Happy weekending to you! What are your plans? 
 

Living: Hello Summer

Posted on by

I think we skipped spring this year and headed straight into summer. My little guy didn’t mind a bit and hasn’t wasted any time getting into the swing of things. I love that nothing more than a sprinkler and an umbrella can entertain him for well over an hour. Oh to be a kid again! 

Muhammad Ali said, "Children make you want to start life over." I think it is true. Wouldn’t you love to feel such sheer joy and enthusiasm on a daily basis? A butterfly hovering over a flower, an airplane in the sky and a puddle all make my guy’s eyes sparkle. It makes me wonder how we all become so jaded and when we stop being amazed and excited by the simple joys we experience. I’m so grateful I get to re-experience the wonders of this world with my guy–even if many of those simple joys create far more laundry and work than I would sometimes like! 

Freelancing: To Blog or Not to Blog

Posted on by

A few weeks ago a friend and I were discussing whether or not it is important for writers to blog. I am constantly torn on how much time I should devote to blogging. On one hand it is something I enjoy doing and posting about freelancing helps me focus on ways I can improve my own business. On the other hand I don’t feel that my blog helps me obtain or keep clients. So for me it became important to focus on my goals for my little corner of the Internet.

I like sharing some of my freelance experiences and helping those that may be considering hanging their own shingle. Since I love to read, offering posts about my favorite books and stories just seemed natural. And, well, talking about my little guy and life at home just makes me happy. Since this is my professional Web site, I struggle more with how much to talk about my personal life. I’ve heard people say to go ahead and have at it since your clients and readers want to know about you as a person, but I’ve also heard people say sharing too much information can actually hurt you. I try to walk a fine line between the two. 

Jane Friedman, editor of Writer’s Digest, had a great post last week about why writers should and shouldn’t blog. My favorite reason she gave for blogging is this: "You will start thinking of opportunities you didn’t before. Once you have an online site/blog, you’ll notice that ideas and plans for it will emerge even if you’re not focusing on it. You have a more empowered and creative stance; you’re more open to possibilities for it because it already exists."

I think that sums up the biggest benefit of blogging for me. Knowing I have the blog keeps me on the lookout for new ideas. I am constantly evaluating the things I do that work well so I can share them with others and I find myself reading books, stories and articles with the blog in mind. It is just another tool for ensuring I keep my eyes open to the world going on around me. 

 

Living: Saying Goodnight

Posted on by
The bedtime routine with my little guy often turns into a power struggle. That little one doesn’t know how lucky he is to get so much uninterrupted sleep! He also doesn’t realize that the full night of sleep he gets results in more smiles and happy moments the next day–for both of us. 
 
Last night was particularly challenging. On my guy’s third trip to the bathroom (within ten minutes), I was helping him pull up his pajama bottoms when he put his hand on my shoulder and said, "One day I will be a grown up and then I will stay in bed all night long." Sometimes my guy knows exactly what to say to calm my frazzled nerves. 
 
His little words reminded me that these moments are fleeting. As hard as bedtimes can be, they are only a blink of the eye in the grand scheme of life. One day he will be a grown up. He will stay in bed all night long, he will brush his teeth without a fuss and he won’t need me to remind him to eat his chicken. But he also won’t ask to snuggle me for just five more minutes or tell me he misses me when he is at school. I won’t get to applaud him for jumping over a crack in the sidewalk, kiss him goodbye in front of his friends or make his day by handing him two Tic-Tacs. 
 

The days are long but the years are short. So tonight when my guy asks for a drink of water, an extra book or a few more minutes of snuggles, I’m going to try to be a little more patient.