National Poetry Month, April 2

I’m taking poetic license on the definition of “date,” as I often do. It is the same day from the time I wake up until I go to bed. So there.

This is a quick post, at least.  I had this pairing in my mind for a while because this is a picture that has remained with me since I took it.  For a little over ten years, I volunteered for the Bay State Equine Rescue. It was a wonderful experience that gifted me with my own adopted horse, Calico Silver.  This picture far predates Calico, though, and comes from my early years at the rescue.  One morning, when I came in for my volunteer shift, lo and behold, there were three new horses!  It was an Appaloosa family: a stallion (soon to be gelded), a mare, and their baby! I happened to have my camera with me (well before camera phones were a thing, so a miracle in and of itself!), so I snapped pictures. And this picture of the stallion, Metro, was one that stayed in my mind as striking with his expression and the wind in his hair.  For the final piece, I will likely use the black and white (which was quite some stressful playing in PhotoShop since all my other photo editing has just been on my phone, itself!), but I wanted to share all his gorgeousness here!

The poem is also in its rough draft form, too. My aim is to compose the poems this month, and then go back and edit later.

Please do not share these photos; I am not finished and sharing them can hurt my future plans for this piece. Thank you!

Some Horse Pictures for You

Here are some adorable pictures of horses that sponsors of the trail ride I did this past Sunday helped!

The rescue herd enjoys some hay.

Avoca and Flicka chill out in the barn.

Piccolo demands you appreciate his adorableness with a side of adorable.

Epona says, "Worship me.  I am a cute pony!"

Bailey says, "Nom-nom-nom. I haz a big pile o' hay!"

Piccolo wants to know if the camera is edible.

Because pony butts are just durned cute, Flicka and Epona model for you.

Keep an eye here for interviews and profiles of some of my donors!!  Thank you everyone who made this happen.  The horses appreciate it!  (And treats. But you supplied them treats, so they love you.)

Life, Horses, and Conventions

Yeah, it's a cliché, but Life does some pretty crazy things now and again… and again… and again…

The first big thing going on in my life, and the main reason I took some time off from my blog, is 

A Horse!!

Yep, real, live, flesh, bone, blood, and love horse.  For me!  It's been a total rollercoaster to see if I could handle this responsibility, and there certainly were some bumps in the road and some heartbreaks… and then some heart re-assembling, but I'm working on boarding contracts now, an ownership contract, and we've got a date set to move Calico into her new stall on Saturday.  Prez Susan from the BSER has been a HUGE help in making this all happen!

It was a really hard decision to make.  First of all, horses are FREAKING EXPENSIVE.  You've got more food than any other pet - and I consider horses as much pets as partners, just as I consider any of my other pets partners in household decisions (Nylis, I appreciate your input, but groceries are not entirely going to your Greenies fund!) - you need to give much more time to them than cats or rabbits (who want, you know, maybe 15 minutes of love at a time.  And food.), and, well, they don't really fit well into a house, so you need a safe and secure place to keep them.

And that's really just the tip of the iceberg.

But, I crunched my numbers, and it's doable.  In fact, I'm setting up a bank account JUST for horse expenses.

In regards to time, I looked back at all my tax records and - quite surprisingly for me - I was THE MOST productive (down to FINISHING drafts for a novel and a half) when I was regularly working with horses 2-3 times a week with the rescue.  With Calico, I'll be going out to Oakham (and perhaps Leicester, if that works out, too!) a minimum of 5 days a week, for a minimum of 2 hours a day.  That will "cost" me at least 20 hours a week including travel, not including weekends I want to hang out with her (and Sue, who's boarding her) and take lessons.

BUT, I'll be doing this first thing of my morning (noon), which kickstart my day: physically, mentally, and spiritually.  (If you don't think horses affect one's spirit, you haven't spent time with them.)

Also, of course, IT'S A HORSE!

More importantly, it's a horse I connected with in our first visit together, who's coming to me under circumstances that have worked out too amazingly to be simple coincidence.  Calico is THE horse. 

What does that mean for my life?

In no particular order:

Probably a huge scramble to organize myself through September.

More later hours at Smarthinking.

A kibosh on the plan for the U.S. tour while Scott's away (which, isn't necessarily a negative change, as things just kept coming up to prevent me from planning that event.)

More writing that involves horses - oh, wait, what's my current WIP about?

More blog, FB & Twitter posts about how AWESOME my horse is.  Probably some cute pix, too.

A definite restructuring of spending, particularly in regards to travel/accommodations for conventions. (How many roommates can we squeeze into one hotel room?)

And… I really believe, much more fiction output and submissions in the near future.

Yes, this is a big change.  But it's a good one.  :)

xx

You get a double blog post, because, well, in the midst of my equine insanity, PI-CON happened!

I <3 Pi-Con!  (And not just for the Awesome reason I don't think is official yet so I won't officially announce.)  It's tagline should be "the convention where everybody knows your name."  I caught up with so many friends and colleagues over the three days!  The panels are a lot of fun to be part of and attend.  The parties are great.  I love getting to see the Come Again Players/Genetic Imperfection two days in a row and just being able to stumble back to my room afterwards. 

One of the highlights, for me, of this year were hanging out in the Book Room on Dealer's Row with friends - and the fact they were fabulous and threw the Broads a party after our reading!  Also, the Guest of Honor, Rob Sawyer, hung out there a lot.  There was just a really positive energy in the room, and I hope that Aradia got a ton of sales.

While I normally have a 2nd home attending panels, I spent a good amount of time just wandering around and socializing.  Much fun!

The Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading was also well attended, and two of my very good friends, Renée and Stef, drove out just to see us.  Well, Stef was coerced into coming because she's working on a Comic! with me, and Renée was also interested in the jewelry making panel and networking.  Both said they had a great time!  (So, huzzah to Pi-Con for appealing even to more "mundane" folk!)

xx

So, that's my life for now - at least that I can share, and I'm quite happy with it!  Yay, life, horses, writing, and conventions!

BLOGATHON, BLOG-O-RAMA, DAY OF BLOGS - IT'S TOMORROW!

(Photo by BSER volunteer Jane Derosier)

This is my third year of blogging for the Bay State Equine Rescue - and it's been quite an adventure.

My first year, 2008, I had the idea of raising money by "selling" guest posts and advertising.  I raised a good amount, but I was a wreck trying to organize it all.  On top of it all, the "Blogathon" organizers had kind of… dropped the event.  Most of the bloggers still banded together and formed the Day of Blogs community - especially active on Live Journal.  I did pretty well for the rescue, working out a schedule as I posted and figuring out how to optimally place my different sponsors. 

In my second year blogging, 2009, I was totally on the ball with organizing!  I got advertising sponsors, threw out the idea at networking gatherings, and all sorts of great stuff.  It was definitely my most successful year so far.  The biggest drawback:  I was actually away for the "official" Blogathon weekend, so, I, uh, made my own 24 hour slot.

This year, I was not as much on the ball, which is totally bad on my part.  I still found advertisers and a good amount of donations from sponsors beforehand, and I really have some spectacular posts from people, as you'll see.  I will be surprised if I break what I made last year, but I've made 2/3 of what I did already - and I've actually got a proper schedule written up!  So, the day, itself, should go more smoothly.  The problem this year:  Regular Blogathon organizers have dropped their organizing… again.  (This confused a few of my sponsors.)  Fortunately, like in 2008, the bloggers have banded together to form… the Blog-O-Rama!  So, the exponential power of many will be driving things forward!

My work today, Friday, is to clean up the posts I've received, rework some of the information I used last year, and write the new material that I need. (Oh!  And turn in a restaurant review to my editor!)  Since I'll be posting to both my blogger and my livejournal blogs, with lots of photos, that's going to take the vast majority of each half hour that I have… because I still haven't taught myself how to auto-post.  (Also my bad.)  In the time between (besides running to the bathroom and trying not to get any food and drink on my keyboard), I plan on following several of my friends who will be blogging, too. 

So, if you're around anytime from 9AM Saturday until 9AM Sunday, THIS WEEKEND, please, please, please stop by my blog and leave a comment or three.

And, if you can, please follow the link that will appear at the bottom of every post (including this one), and give whatever you can to the rescue.  Even if it's just a buck.  J  Every little bit helps the horses.

Thank you!

Click the apple to donate now to help the BSER horses!

Advertise AND make the world a better place for horses? Blogathon!

I know I've got a lot going on that some of you have caught glimpses of on Twitter and Facebook, but today, I want to dedicate my Manic Monday to the 24-hour mania I annually dedicate to the Bay State Equine Rescue.

A few years back, my friend, Shira Lipkin, pointed me towards www.blogathon.org and the Blogathon Event.

Basically, bloggers around the globe dedicate 24 hours, posting every half hour, to raising money for their favorite charities. It's wicked, crazy cool!

So, every year around this time I start begging my friends and colleagues to sponsor me for this event!

And I do my damnedest to make it worth your while.

What do I do?

I promo the hell outta ya!

I'm offering:

• Your own blog interview: I interview you, include pictures you provide, and tell the world why they need to hire you or buy your products/books/etc. - $40 sponsorship
• Your own blog feature: 700 words of your own to tell the world about yourself with up to 2 pictures. - $35 sponsorship
• Sponsor one of my blog posts: I'll give you a 50-word blurb before one of my planned posts about equine rescue, horses, horse care, or equine legislation. - $20
• Twitter/Facebook-mania: Why people should buy your product/hire you in 140 characters or less. Posted to both my Twitter and Facebook accounts. - $10

Both the interview and the feature include Twitter/Facebook Mania.

And early sponsors get more promotion. For example:

Thank you Massachusetts Horse for donating advertising for the BSER Blogathon! Massachusetts Horse is entirely dedicated to the equine culture in MA - and even beyond. The magazine offers horse care information, legal articles, trail reviews, spotlight articles on Massachusetts equine businesses, youth groups, and non-profits. It reaches over 10,000 people with each bi-monthly issue - and is donated to libraries, youth groups, and horse clubs all over the state. Please visit their website at www.mahorse.com for more information on subscribing or advertising with them.

If you sign up as a sponsor before July, I'll include ad copy for you each week in one of my regular blog postings: Manic Monday, Writerly Wednesday, or Foodie/Feminist Friday.

Now, on top of all the promotion, your donations are entirely tax deductible because they go right to the Bay State Equine Rescue, a 501(c)3 organization. We are an entirely volunteer run organization dedicated to making the world a better place for horses, and your donation will go directly to help horses in our care or who need our rescue.

Do you like promotion?

Do you like to know your advertising dollars are going to a good cause?

Want to find out more?

E-mail me! trish (at) anovelfriend (dot) com

And let the world know about you - while helping horses in need.

News of the week…

I ought to be asleep right now because sinus pressure is threatening imminent head explosion. It's either allergies or a cold; I can't tell which. Hand sanitizer stock is rising…

xx

Cyndi's surprise baby shower went off wonderfully. It was Stina's idea, and she's got it documented on Facebook, for those of you interested. Third time was, indeed, a charm as Cyn confessed, "While I was wrapping [Stina's] gift, I thought for a minute, is this another… no, they wouldn't…"

Well, we did. We surprised her for her Sweet 16, we did it for her wedding… and now for her first baby.

We <3 U Cyn!

xx

There was no Friday blog (though it is written), due to planning for abovementioned shower, and the fact I was totally exhausted from my Thursday adventures.

Thursday adventures started Wednesday… with dropping off my car at the shop.

Then, I was up at an ungodly hour to bring Scott into work, and then drive out to the Boston Animal Rescue League for an article I'm researching for Massachusetts Horse. Despite my lack of Boston-driving prowess, I managed to arrive (and later leave) with much fewer minutes (in some cases, hours) lost in the city. Boston driving still is rated as one of my LEAST favorite things to do (along with vacuuming and roller-coasters and massive surgery), but the trip was TOTALLY WORTH IT!

I'm wicked excited with everyone I met and stoked to write the article… so, I won't divulge any details until I decide what makes the cut. Regardless, make sure you get the April/May Massachusetts Horse and definitely check out their website!

They are teh awessomesauce!

xx

Oh… and after the fabulous trip to the Animal Rescue League (and during the earlier driving), I had been working out the details for obtaining a ride to collect my car (damage = $600 *Waaah!*). Renée came to my rescue, and for as late as I was running and the car was finished (left the shop at 4:45), I decided it would be a brilliant idea to just drive out to Sudbury to pick up the hubby - who was going to get out "relatively early."

Yah… well, um, he had to do more tests for his project.

8:45 and the Starbucks across from his job was mopping floors and giving us stragglers (me and three German girls) looks, and finally, he arrives. I'd written my blog post, but figured I could post it at home (without the hassle of LJ's and Blogger's confusion that: omigod, I'm posting from a different computer!).

After dinner at a great healthy Asian place next door to Starbucks called Lavender, we get home for… around 10:PM. We have to still pack for the shower trip, and after our busy days, we both need a breather.

Cue collective couch slump for Burn Notice.

Good intentions: pack between commercials.

Reality: blergh… teeveeeee

Packing accomplished by 1:AM.

Up again at 7:30 for the Chiropractor and the shower preps… and you can guess the rest.

xx

Dear Sinuses & Immune System,

I apologize for the lack of sleep and intense running around in the past several days. Can you please forgive me and blow the m*****f***ing germs and allergens out of my system now? Pretty please?

Love,

Me!

xx

Writingwise:

Just received one good friend's email about her crits of my new chap 1 for Starbard. The message went something like: "Remember, you asked for it."

Mañana… will deal with it mañana.

And then send it off to current dream agent…

Also, still some debate & good conversation regarding my post on plagiarism. ;) If you missed it, please feel free to check it again and comment.

(Cuz, good comments = good karma)

A Very Equine Thanksgiving

Last weekend, the Bay State Equine Rescue attended the Equine Affaire, as we always do. We often get a good portion of our supplies from generous dealers at the Equine Affaire. Anyone who has horses knows - but many people who don't have or work with horses don't realize - that caring for a horse is expensive. Grain, supplies, supplements, vitamins, medicine - all cost a lot of money. Since the rescue is run entirely on volunteers and donations, it means a lot to us when dealers give us their extras and leftovers.

This year, the Bay State Equine Rescue gives our thanks for donations from Equine Affaire to:

Cosequin
Agway
Finish Line Horse Products, Inc.
Platinum Performance
McCauley Brothers Inc.
Poulin Grain
Central Connecticut Cooperative Farmers Association
Blue Seal Feed
Biovance
U.S. Animal of Vermont
TizWhiz Sales LTD
Life Data Labs, Inc.
Uckele Health & Nutrition, Inc.
Lucerne Farms
SmartPak

Some of these companies also make vitamins, supplements, clothing, gifts, dog, cat, small animal… and many other non-horse products. Please help Bay State Equine Rescue thank these wonderful companies by checking them out for your holiday shopping needs!

Thank you from everyone at BSER - human and equine alike!

My Intent was Bed by Midnight…

It's now almost 3:30 and I just finished the outline rewrite for Chris's and my shared novel…

And I'm entirely exhausted after a weekend of heavy-duty cleaning and collecting donations for the Bay State Equine Rescue at the Equine Affaire.

So, short blog post:

If you're going to do a novel for NaNoWriMo… make sure you have double checked any and all research so you're not rewriting your outline on day 15. (How many days are in November???)

And:

Even in this economy - some people are still awesomely generous for horses in need. As soon as Karin sends me a list of all the wonderful sponsors, I will post them on my blog - but it really was amazing to see how many companies really answered the call for our horses.

If you were at the Equine Affaire, and you donated to Bay State Equine Rescue - or any rescue - THANK YOU!!!!!