Clueless

Today is the revealing of the

what

in what I am waiting for…

{ Insert Suspense Here }

Simply, I’m waiting for

a letter.

Explanation of the Clues

and further explanation of the what…

Clue #1: On Friday August 7th, the same day of the ultrasound that will live infamy, I went to the Millis Post Office and sent a manuscript.
How to Solve the Clue: Google the address, you’ll get several hits for the Millis Post Office.

Clue #2: Is how much was spent to send the manuscript. It would have cost more but my cunning husband decided to use media mail.
How to Solve the Clue: Using the backwards writer at Bored.com, copy and paste the message to retrieve the phrase “send your printed or recorded materials using this service.” Google that phrase and the result will be a hit for Media Mail.

Clue #3: A lot of people thought I was waiting for a bulky package when in fact I was just waiting for a letter- the sooner the better!
How to Solve the Clue: After tuning into the Marvelettes via youtube, click the ‘more info’ link to the right of the video. In the description it says “the Marvelettes are most notable for recording the label's first US #1 pop hit, 'Please Mr. Postman.'" That’s the right song! Google the lyrics to narrow-down what I’m waiting for in the mail.

Clue #4: Is the recipient of my manuscript, and who I’m awaiting a letter from.
How to Solve the Clue: If you go back to my “Genealogy is… Doable” post, you’ll discovered I quoted George Q. Cannon, whose picture is featured in the clue. Google “George Q. Cannon and Sons” and you’ll get a Wikipedia hit for Deseret Books.

Clue #5: What am I waiting for? For a letter in regards to my manuscript getting accepted, rejected or encouraged for revision and resubmission. Honestly, I'm expecting to get rejected, but, hey.
How to Solve the Clue: Luck.

Clue #6: The address I sent my manuscript.
How to Solve the Clue: Google address and get a hit for “What’s Where in Mormon Literature” that lists the Deseret Book Publishing Department.

Clue #7: The date I started writing.
How to Solve the Clue: Take a peek at my hiatus stickie blog post on July 6. It tells you exactly what I’ve gone and done. : )

Clue #8: Blah. Articulate, wasn't I? This clue suggests that maybe I’ll see my name in print again.
How to Solve the Clue: … If you haven’t figured it out yet. Maybe it’s better that way. Or at least better for me. : )

So. There you go.

I’m awaiting the arrival of a letter from Deseret Book

regarding the status of my manuscript.

I know that they have received it, that’s about it.

(they send you a little card, informing you that your manuscript has arrived)

So... now what am I going

to blog about?

Busy Bodies

Here’s an overview of our three-day weekend:

Friday

Before our trip to Vermont I started reading The Shakeress, a book I recommend for light reading and as a preamble to Vermont. One of my favorite lines in the book comes from the protagonist’s love interest. He is describing his practices of prayer and expressing his feelings towards deity. Although he prays, he does not know if anyone is listening and essentially pronounces that God does not speak to him as He does to others. Then he asks the protagonist, “Does this make you despise me?”

Remember when I said that if our experience here on earth could be whittled down to a personal development workshop, I’d be stuck in an all-day session on Patience? Well, I would be taking Empathy night school as well. In fact, I’ve been taking a semester-worth already. Before this pregnancy, I was quick to be critical of child spacing, family planning, and, of course, abortion. After this past month though, I have gained a lot of perspective and empathy.

I’m a big believer in differentiated instruction, not necessarily in the classroom, but I think it is relevant in life and especially religion. Whether or not you attend the same church, the people you meet are on all a whole different unit of instruction than you, so be tolerant of others and also of yourself.

Love one another.

Be kind, rewind.

*descends from soapbox* Back to our trip. Sharon, Vermont is where Joseph Smith, Jr. was born, the Church has a monument and visitor’s center erected there. The missionary couple that had been called to serve at the center were sweet. The sister was Caleb designated grandmother for the day.

The foliage was SpLeNdId. I had read somewhere online that the first part of October is the best time to visit Vermont to see the leaves and our timing was perfect. I had never seen so many SuPeRb colors ever. There were also flower beds around the grounds of the monument which Caleb enjoyed. He was sad to leave.

It was nice to be reminded of beginnings and restorations. I think that is what I liked best about our visit.

After Sharon, we took a drive north to the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory. It was neat. There is a playground for children, and a cute ice cream graveyard for all the flavors that had tanked. Inside the factory there is memorabilia, an ice cream stand, and a gift shop. There’s a 30 minute tour given, completely stroller accessible (which rocked), where they show a movie, the jest of ice cream production, and give you a free 2 oz sample of the flavor of the day (chocolate chip cookie dough for us).

On our four hour drive home Caleb fell asleep during the second encore of Lyle the Kindly Viking and Mike and I were able to listen to the audio book of The 39 Clues. We made it home by 6:45. Whew. Just in time for me to go out again with a few friends for a “round-robin” girls’ night out (Red Robin, shopping detour and Baskin Robbins). : )

It was a good day.

Saturday

I skipped out of bed and got the bare essentials out of the way: clothing, brush through hair, eat fudgy cookie for breakfast, brush teeth, love on Caleb, get rebuked by Caleb, call Mike a silly moose, slip on flip-flops, grab walletglassescellphoneandkeys and away I go to the Millis Library Book Sale. Like I posted on Facebook, I’m “not really a shopaholic, but library book sales are totally my Black Friday.” And Millis holds a book sale TWICE a year. I told you I live in the best town in America.

Here’s what I found this time:

Young Children’s Books:

• Touch and Feel: On the Go
• I’m a Big Brother
• There’s No Such Thing as a Dragon
• Doggies
• But Not the Hippopotamus
• Jamberry

Young Adult and Classic Children’s Books:

• Holes
• Stuart Little
• The Phantom Tollbooth
• Flat Stanley
• Number of The Stars
• Amelia Bedelia (totally vintage)
• Sarah, Plain and Tall
• Caleb’s Story (sequel to Sarah, Plain and Tall)
• Matilda
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
• Old Yeller
• Shiloh
• The Little Prince

And, the only adult book I bought, Death of a Salesmen, was absentmindedly left on the checkout table. Sad day.

I blame it on the shortsighted cookie-for-breakfast plan. Next time, at least three cookies should be consumed. The book was the most expensive item I bought… for .50

I stayed at the library rummaging for an hour before heading home with my books.

Grand total $4.50 for 21 books. Not shabby.

I made it back in time to assemble the snacks, put Caleb down for his nap and tune-in to General Conference, which, as always, was great.

Sunday

OKAY: Attending church on your couch in your pajamas, eating our traditional conference chicken salad, listening to modern revelation being expounded via the internet while Caleb wanders around aimlessly “sweeping” everything in sight.

BETTER: Attending church on your couch in your pajamas, eating our traditional conference chicken salad with ritz crackers, listening to modern revelation being expounded via the internet while Caleb takes a nap.

LUXURIOUS: Not having to cook an evening meal because Maria invited us over for dinner.

Last clue... very embarrassing.
Still waiting though... next week is the explanation of the clues. You're excited/relieved aren't you?

Me too.If only you could "click to look inside"

182 Days

26 weeks. Today.

Which, I did not realize until my doctor was speaking on the phone with the Milford Regional Hospital regarding the organization Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS).

NILMDTS is a nonprofit organization made up of trained volunteer photographers that provide remembrance photography services to families experiencing the loss of an infant, such as ourselves. I believe they photograph as early as 25 week gestation.

It is a nationwide organization, and is beginning to built up international relations.

This organization has not worked with our hospital before, and when the time comes our family will be the first to use its services there. It is sad to be the first, but at least the hospital is aware of this service now and can recommend it to others in our position.

Here is a Trisomy slideshow composed by NILMDTS. It features photography of Trisomy 13 and 18 infants. Not for the faint of heart. : (

So, back to the original thought, 26 weeks. Wow. I didn’t think we’d make it this far. It doesn’t seem like an accomplishment of sorts, but it is still worth mentioning.Way to go, baby N.H. or E.L.

Another thing worth mentioning is that I still haven’t decided what the surprise is going to be for the supreme guesser and the honorable mentionee in our little waiting game.

(Yes, that’s a hint that someone has guessed correctly. Got any ideas what the surprise should be? LEAVE A COMMENT!)

Here’s this week’s clue in case you are still interested : )