I found this video and thought it was great. I love the look on the hair dresser's face when he says, "So you want me to work for free." Great video for freelance artists and for those who like a good laugh.
Monday, December 28, 2009
A few changes
You may have noticed a few changes on the blog over the last few weeks. I have hired the very talented TonieLee Designs to create a new blog template for me. It matches the new website that I have set up at www.sirenavanschaik.com. I'm excited to have everything revamped and I am really happy with TonieLee, she did an excellent job on both.
So while they are pretty apparent, I just wanted to mention the changes and also see what everyone else thinks of the changes. For more information on TonieLee, you can visit her website at http://www.tonielee.com.
All the best,
Sirena
So while they are pretty apparent, I just wanted to mention the changes and also see what everyone else thinks of the changes. For more information on TonieLee, you can visit her website at http://www.tonielee.com.
All the best,
Sirena
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
'Twas The Night Before Christmas
Okay, it may not be the night before Christmas but today, as I was looking through my resource books, I found my copy of "The Night Before Christmas." I was pretty happy with this since I was sure I had lost it and last year we had to read the story from a sheet of paper I downloaded. While it was the story, it just wasn't the same as reading it from the beautifully colored pictures of my book.
Proud of myself, I went in to my husband, who was sitting with my oldest son. He glanced up and said, "Oh, you found it," as my son made a small noise of delight. I looked at him and said, "You can't read this book."
"What? Why not," my son was a little disappointed by the news and he stared at me incredulously.
Just then, my husband interrupted, "Because only the head of the household can read it."
My son thought about it for a split second and then said, "Oh, okay. Mom can you read it to me."
I start laughing and my husband spent the next ten minutes arguing with my son that he was the head of the household and not me. Finally he just gave up and said, "That's a story I like to read on Christmas Eve."
It's funny how kids see things.
Proud of myself, I went in to my husband, who was sitting with my oldest son. He glanced up and said, "Oh, you found it," as my son made a small noise of delight. I looked at him and said, "You can't read this book."
"What? Why not," my son was a little disappointed by the news and he stared at me incredulously.
Just then, my husband interrupted, "Because only the head of the household can read it."
My son thought about it for a split second and then said, "Oh, okay. Mom can you read it to me."
I start laughing and my husband spent the next ten minutes arguing with my son that he was the head of the household and not me. Finally he just gave up and said, "That's a story I like to read on Christmas Eve."
It's funny how kids see things.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Uncovering the Laundry Thief
For years, I have had the misfortune of being the victim of a laundry thief. I have lost countless shirts, pants and many other items and never could figure out where they went. When my kids arrived, this thief seemed to strike even more and while I blamed all the missing socks on the washing machine, I began to suspect that there was more foul play than I wanted to admit.
Finally, after all these years, I have discovered the identity of the laundry thief. It was heart wrenching to uncover him and I have to believe that it was not done with any thought towards wrongdoing.
of course, the discovery came after several of my shirts went missing. Then a few days later, my oldest son's favorite t-shirt had gone AWOL. It was such a cute shirt, with a sad tree and monkeys on it and the words "Homework Kills Trees. Stop the Madness!"
At first I did what every mother would do. I looked at my 8 year old and said, "Okay, where did you stuff it?"
I was positive that his excuses of putting it in the clothes hamper was just that, excuses, but after searching every nook and cranny in the room, every book shelf, every toy box and even extending the search to his brother's room, closet and dresser, there was no sign of the shirt. I sighed and said, "Did you take it off at school for some unknown reason?"
That last ditch effort to find it only resulted in rolled eyes and a "Yeah, sure mom. Like I'm going to take my shirt off there."
So we left it at that and I figured that the laundry thief had struck again.
And he had!
Just yesterday, as I was putting away laundry into my husband's dresser, I came across a shirt I had lost. "Oh ho," I exclaimed. (Okay, maybe I didn't say Oh Ho, since I'm not a pirate and I didn't really say anything but I did smile in triumph.)
After searching through all of his dresser drawers I uncovered a whole assortment of clothes. Mine, my 5 year old's and my oldest son's "Stop the Madness" shirt. I was perplexed at the find. I mean, my husband will often mix up the kids' clothes and I am constantly switching clothes back and forth between rooms but how could he think that the small sized shirt was his.
For that matter, how could he think the soft pink pajama top belonged to anyone else but me. Still, I sorted my treasures and set them back in their rightful places and then hunted down my laundry thief.
"You are never putting away laundry again," I exclaimed with triumph without even saying anything else.
He looked at me in confusion and asked, "Waht did I do?"
"You know what you did," I pointed an acussatory finger at him, "You keep putting the laundry away in the wrong places. I'm tired of fixing it."
He shakees his head, "Well, at least I put the laundry away. Some husbands don't even do that."
I spear him with my best disapproving look and say, "Yeah, but when you put it away like that, it doesn't help. Just don't touch it anymore."
"Fine, I won't," was the last remark before I walked away, proud of myself for finding the thief. And then it hits me; maybe I had been duped. Maybe all those years of missing laundry had been some nefarious plan and I had walked right into it. It had taken a while to wear me down but in one short afternoon, I had taken all the laundry onto my workload and told him not to touch it ever again.
And now, as I gain a little perspective, my victory doesn't feel as sweet as it did yesterday.
All the best and if you lose some laundry, look into your husband's dresser but don't, and I repeat don't, fall into the same trap I did.
Sirena
Finally, after all these years, I have discovered the identity of the laundry thief. It was heart wrenching to uncover him and I have to believe that it was not done with any thought towards wrongdoing.
of course, the discovery came after several of my shirts went missing. Then a few days later, my oldest son's favorite t-shirt had gone AWOL. It was such a cute shirt, with a sad tree and monkeys on it and the words "Homework Kills Trees. Stop the Madness!"
At first I did what every mother would do. I looked at my 8 year old and said, "Okay, where did you stuff it?"
I was positive that his excuses of putting it in the clothes hamper was just that, excuses, but after searching every nook and cranny in the room, every book shelf, every toy box and even extending the search to his brother's room, closet and dresser, there was no sign of the shirt. I sighed and said, "Did you take it off at school for some unknown reason?"
That last ditch effort to find it only resulted in rolled eyes and a "Yeah, sure mom. Like I'm going to take my shirt off there."
So we left it at that and I figured that the laundry thief had struck again.
And he had!
Just yesterday, as I was putting away laundry into my husband's dresser, I came across a shirt I had lost. "Oh ho," I exclaimed. (Okay, maybe I didn't say Oh Ho, since I'm not a pirate and I didn't really say anything but I did smile in triumph.)
After searching through all of his dresser drawers I uncovered a whole assortment of clothes. Mine, my 5 year old's and my oldest son's "Stop the Madness" shirt. I was perplexed at the find. I mean, my husband will often mix up the kids' clothes and I am constantly switching clothes back and forth between rooms but how could he think that the small sized shirt was his.
For that matter, how could he think the soft pink pajama top belonged to anyone else but me. Still, I sorted my treasures and set them back in their rightful places and then hunted down my laundry thief.
"You are never putting away laundry again," I exclaimed with triumph without even saying anything else.
He looked at me in confusion and asked, "Waht did I do?"
"You know what you did," I pointed an acussatory finger at him, "You keep putting the laundry away in the wrong places. I'm tired of fixing it."
He shakees his head, "Well, at least I put the laundry away. Some husbands don't even do that."
I spear him with my best disapproving look and say, "Yeah, but when you put it away like that, it doesn't help. Just don't touch it anymore."
"Fine, I won't," was the last remark before I walked away, proud of myself for finding the thief. And then it hits me; maybe I had been duped. Maybe all those years of missing laundry had been some nefarious plan and I had walked right into it. It had taken a while to wear me down but in one short afternoon, I had taken all the laundry onto my workload and told him not to touch it ever again.
And now, as I gain a little perspective, my victory doesn't feel as sweet as it did yesterday.
All the best and if you lose some laundry, look into your husband's dresser but don't, and I repeat don't, fall into the same trap I did.
Sirena
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
December is here!!
December is here and the holidays is only a few short weeks away. I am so behind on my shopping. I have 2 presents bought officially and I haven't even started my Christmas cards. On top of that, both of my kids want to make their Christmas presents so I have to go out and buy the supplies for those. There just never seems to be enough hours in the day and I find I count minutes to make it feel like I have a lot to do.
Let's see. This task will take me 15 minutes but that still leaves me with 885 minutes to accomplish all of that. Yep, plenty of time to do everything. So while there may only be 24 more days until Christmas, you still have 34560 minutes, give or take a few, to get all your Christmas shopping done.
See, I like my way better. I'm not behind on getting Christmas shopping done. I'm actually right on schedule and may even have a few thousand minutes to spare.
Anyway, wishing all of you a Happy Holiday Season this December. (Thought I would start early on the well wishing.)
Sirena
Let's see. This task will take me 15 minutes but that still leaves me with 885 minutes to accomplish all of that. Yep, plenty of time to do everything. So while there may only be 24 more days until Christmas, you still have 34560 minutes, give or take a few, to get all your Christmas shopping done.
See, I like my way better. I'm not behind on getting Christmas shopping done. I'm actually right on schedule and may even have a few thousand minutes to spare.
Anyway, wishing all of you a Happy Holiday Season this December. (Thought I would start early on the well wishing.)
Sirena
Monday, November 30, 2009
A Little Pet Peeve
Everyone has pet peeves and I know that I actually have a lot. Towels need to be folded in quarters and then in thirds, except dish towels which need to be folded a totally different way. I don't care if the toilet paper is on the roll any which way but I find it annoying when people take out a new roll and then place it on the counter instead of on the roll. I hate, and I mean hate, when people wear hats indoors and I really don't like nicknames. In fact, my husband never calls me by anything but my first name because any reference to dear, honey or sweetheart is met with a snide comment from me. It's not that I don't understand where the endearment is but I spent several years of my life being referred to as "chicken" by my mother's husband that all other nicknames bring to mind that one despised name.
But I digress. I realized that I have a huge pet peeve and what is even worse is that I'm usually the culprit that does it. I hate it when people ask you to repeat yourself or clarify with a "Haah" noise. I don't do this very often, preferring 'pardon' or 'excuse me' or when I'm not thinking the simple, 'what did you say?' but every once in a while I will issue forth the "haah".
Once I do, I spend 20 minutes berating myself quietly for using the noise and I think about all the times I correct the kids for the same offense. It irritates me to no end that I did it but I can't take it back. I think it is a funny little pet peeve and even funnier that I annoy myself with it.
Anyway, just a little ramble. What pet peeves do you have?
All the best,
Sirena
But I digress. I realized that I have a huge pet peeve and what is even worse is that I'm usually the culprit that does it. I hate it when people ask you to repeat yourself or clarify with a "Haah" noise. I don't do this very often, preferring 'pardon' or 'excuse me' or when I'm not thinking the simple, 'what did you say?' but every once in a while I will issue forth the "haah".
Once I do, I spend 20 minutes berating myself quietly for using the noise and I think about all the times I correct the kids for the same offense. It irritates me to no end that I did it but I can't take it back. I think it is a funny little pet peeve and even funnier that I annoy myself with it.
Anyway, just a little ramble. What pet peeves do you have?
All the best,
Sirena
Sunday, November 29, 2009
A Few New Things
It seems like I have been away for a while and I guess I have. I think I have just been walking on eggshells, not sure if I should give out news or if I should stay quiet. It has been a busy few months with freelance writing picking up speed and my own novella being accepted for publication.
Yes, that's right. I have my first book contract! I am really excited about it and can't wait to work on further books. I am currently working on my second novel and hopefully it will be a success with finding a publisher and everything.
The book will be published with Wild Rose Press and I have written a few articles for their blog. You can read them here and here.
On another note, I had an article come out in Runway Magazine so I was really excited about it. You can pick it up at most book stores so I already have my copy. Actually, when I went and bought it, I had my kids with me. I showed my oldest the article and he shrugged his shoulders and said, "Yes, a magazine."
I was a little crestfallen. Had he become that bored with my writing? As I was walking out of the store, I asked him, "Don't you think that's cool?"
Where he said, "What? That you bought a magazine?"
At that I flipped open to the article again, waited a moment as he read the title and then smiled when he said, "Hey, you wrote that one. That is really cool!"
So my kids still think writing is cool and while I enjoy it for myself, it feels much better when other people are as excited about it as I am.
Yes, that's right. I have my first book contract! I am really excited about it and can't wait to work on further books. I am currently working on my second novel and hopefully it will be a success with finding a publisher and everything.
The book will be published with Wild Rose Press and I have written a few articles for their blog. You can read them here and here.
On another note, I had an article come out in Runway Magazine so I was really excited about it. You can pick it up at most book stores so I already have my copy. Actually, when I went and bought it, I had my kids with me. I showed my oldest the article and he shrugged his shoulders and said, "Yes, a magazine."
I was a little crestfallen. Had he become that bored with my writing? As I was walking out of the store, I asked him, "Don't you think that's cool?"
Where he said, "What? That you bought a magazine?"
At that I flipped open to the article again, waited a moment as he read the title and then smiled when he said, "Hey, you wrote that one. That is really cool!"
So my kids still think writing is cool and while I enjoy it for myself, it feels much better when other people are as excited about it as I am.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Time slips by but children find the words
It's amazing how fast time slips by when you are completely absorbed in writing something. I have been so focused on freelance writing that I haven't written on the blog. I have also been so focused on finishing the edits on a manuscript that again, I haven't written on the blog.
Right now I am waiting to hear back about the latests edits that I have done on a manuscript. The publisher seems very interested in the story but it needs work before it can more towards a contract. So I am on edge with that but I pass the time with manuscript number two and a number of freelance commitments that I have.
But I thought it was time to update and since I have been lacking the words to post on here, I thought maybe my children could find the words for me. And they did! Actually my oldest has been talking about writing a book and below is a scan of his story that he was working on. He has shifted gears but I think the story below is a really good first attempt, especially since he was 7 when he wrote it.
If you can't read his printing, I have supplied the text below. Beware, it's all about Star Wars. (his punctuation too)
"Star Wars
As the clone wars continues, on the Planet Mustafar a big war is on. Clone troopers blow up droid tanks. "We have blown up a turbo tank," said the droid commander.
The droids launched some spiderdroids. BOOM! Blasts go everywhere. One clone fell down. As many troops and droids got hit a huge blast hits a tank! "Fire! Fire! Fire!," said a clone.
In a room ten troops fight ten droids. A turbo tank is hit. Ten huge blasts hit some turbo tanks and spider droids." >>>next page<<<
"BOOM! BOOM! The droids start to launch more tanks. A big blast hit a room and beating some droids and troops. Zap! "Hind behind that tower," said the clone commander. A blast hits a spiderdroid. "That spider is down," said a clone. Most of the ships have left now. Boom! The ships shake." >>>next page<<<
"Clone pilots rush to their fighters. Droid ships shoot at clone ships. Some clones land on a droid ship. They put charges on the ship. "Run," said a clone. BOOM!
"We are beating a cloneship," said a droid."
That was as far as he went with it but I thought it was very cute and very well done.
Hope you enjoyed the story and everything.
Sirena
Right now I am waiting to hear back about the latests edits that I have done on a manuscript. The publisher seems very interested in the story but it needs work before it can more towards a contract. So I am on edge with that but I pass the time with manuscript number two and a number of freelance commitments that I have.
But I thought it was time to update and since I have been lacking the words to post on here, I thought maybe my children could find the words for me. And they did! Actually my oldest has been talking about writing a book and below is a scan of his story that he was working on. He has shifted gears but I think the story below is a really good first attempt, especially since he was 7 when he wrote it.
If you can't read his printing, I have supplied the text below. Beware, it's all about Star Wars. (his punctuation too)
"Star Wars
As the clone wars continues, on the Planet Mustafar a big war is on. Clone troopers blow up droid tanks. "We have blown up a turbo tank," said the droid commander.
The droids launched some spiderdroids. BOOM! Blasts go everywhere. One clone fell down. As many troops and droids got hit a huge blast hits a tank! "Fire! Fire! Fire!," said a clone.
In a room ten troops fight ten droids. A turbo tank is hit. Ten huge blasts hit some turbo tanks and spider droids." >>>next page<<<
"BOOM! BOOM! The droids start to launch more tanks. A big blast hit a room and beating some droids and troops. Zap! "Hind behind that tower," said the clone commander. A blast hits a spiderdroid. "That spider is down," said a clone. Most of the ships have left now. Boom! The ships shake." >>>next page<<<
"Clone pilots rush to their fighters. Droid ships shoot at clone ships. Some clones land on a droid ship. They put charges on the ship. "Run," said a clone. BOOM!
"We are beating a cloneship," said a droid."
That was as far as he went with it but I thought it was very cute and very well done.
Hope you enjoyed the story and everything.
Sirena
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Pages
Blank pages dance before my eyes and I really believe I'm about to cry. Where are the words when I need them most, they faded away like forgotten ghosts.
Yep, inspiration has hit in the midst of a writer's block. I have read somewhere that writer's don't have blocks; all it is is a figment of our imagination but whoever wrote that (and I can't seem to find it) probably wasn't a writer. I have articles to finish, my own book to edit and I really feel the need to start novel number 2 but all I have are blank pages, ignored notes and a number of emails to answer.
I am hoping that the block passes soon and all I can do is slug away at my work. The one problem with writing with a block is I am never happy with what I am producing. My clients are happy, saying that the work is excellent but I know that I could do so much better. The words don't flow easily and I know that anyone who is reading it will say, "Oh, there's the part where she stumbled."
Anyway, just a quick post (I know I am awful at posting but then again, you should see my journal), and now I need to get back to work. Expect a bunch of these little posts while I am dealing with the block. I seem to have little snippets here and there that I seem to focus on but maybe writing them down will get me over the block.
Have a good day,
Sirena
Yep, inspiration has hit in the midst of a writer's block. I have read somewhere that writer's don't have blocks; all it is is a figment of our imagination but whoever wrote that (and I can't seem to find it) probably wasn't a writer. I have articles to finish, my own book to edit and I really feel the need to start novel number 2 but all I have are blank pages, ignored notes and a number of emails to answer.
I am hoping that the block passes soon and all I can do is slug away at my work. The one problem with writing with a block is I am never happy with what I am producing. My clients are happy, saying that the work is excellent but I know that I could do so much better. The words don't flow easily and I know that anyone who is reading it will say, "Oh, there's the part where she stumbled."
Anyway, just a quick post (I know I am awful at posting but then again, you should see my journal), and now I need to get back to work. Expect a bunch of these little posts while I am dealing with the block. I seem to have little snippets here and there that I seem to focus on but maybe writing them down will get me over the block.
Have a good day,
Sirena
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Jonas Brothers' New Book
Today as I was waiting for dinner to be finished (yes I was cooking), I was flipping through a magazine and happened upon a little article, I mean it wasn't much more than a blurp, talking about the new Jonas Brothers book. It read about how you get an intimate look into each brother's life and blah, blah, blah.
I started laughing and my husband asked me what was so funny. Of course, I had to be a bit of a smart ass, and I said, "The Jonas Brothers have a new book featuring their life story. Jeez, how much of a life story can they have in their late teens, early twenties?"
My husband's answer was simply, "I'm not sure but I bet there are a lot of pictures in it."
Throughout this conversation, my seven year old son was busy drawing a picture at the dining room table and we were actually talking above him, something that I try not to do but he was immersed in his drawing, or so I thought.
Just as my husband finished his sentence, we heard, "Yeah, I bet it goes, "They were born, they played, they decided to make music. The end."
I thought it was very clever that he followed all of it and was able to say it with such a straight face. I know that I have a fledgling smart ass that is quickly gaining rank in a family of smart asses but sometimes it is surprising to see it, or I guess hear it would be appropriate.
But anyway, just thought I would write a post and this was a funny thing that happened to me that I just wanted to share.
Take care and maybe I will be back tomorrow.
Sirena
I started laughing and my husband asked me what was so funny. Of course, I had to be a bit of a smart ass, and I said, "The Jonas Brothers have a new book featuring their life story. Jeez, how much of a life story can they have in their late teens, early twenties?"
My husband's answer was simply, "I'm not sure but I bet there are a lot of pictures in it."
Throughout this conversation, my seven year old son was busy drawing a picture at the dining room table and we were actually talking above him, something that I try not to do but he was immersed in his drawing, or so I thought.
Just as my husband finished his sentence, we heard, "Yeah, I bet it goes, "They were born, they played, they decided to make music. The end."
I thought it was very clever that he followed all of it and was able to say it with such a straight face. I know that I have a fledgling smart ass that is quickly gaining rank in a family of smart asses but sometimes it is surprising to see it, or I guess hear it would be appropriate.
But anyway, just thought I would write a post and this was a funny thing that happened to me that I just wanted to share.
Take care and maybe I will be back tomorrow.
Sirena
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)