The Fat Lady Sings

MOM for The House!

Sorry, folks. Had to take Kelley's video down. We have to replace the music and several visuals. I will put the replacement up as soon as it's finished.

Thanks for all of your input! Just finished my first promotional video for Kelley's campaign.  Kelley still needs to approve everything and offer up her edits - but in the main I'd call it done.  So tell me what you think.  Does it inspire, does it inform? How do you feel about Kelley after watching it? Any and all input would be greatly appreciated!

Dancing on the Ceiling!

 

It’s out!  All You Magazine, a Time, Inc. publication has done a feature article on Kelley Wenzlaff and her MOM for The House campaign.  The interview was conducted last summer, with Time’s staff photographer arriving over 4^th of July weekend.  He followed Kelley, chronicling her participation in Delaware County, Ohio’s Independence Day Parade.  MOM for The House has gone national!

I’m so fired up I could dance on the ceiling!  All this came about thanks to blogging, by the way.  The article’s writer, feminist author Jennifer Baumgardner (Memoirs of an Ex-Prom Queen), read some of the campaign essays Kelly and I had posted, and was intrigued.  She rang Kelley up and asked if Kelley would be interested in a profile.  Well of course Kelley said yes!  How may local politicians get personal profiles in national magazines?  We see this as a real turning point in Kelley’s campaign.

And Jennifer has turned out to be a fabulous mentor as well, advising us regarding the publication of our first book, MOM for The House: Your Essential Guide to Housekeeping and Politics.  The power of the feminine, my friends – nothing can withstand it!  Women (and men) supporting one another, lending a hand.  I call it ‘The Collective’ - an association of like minds and talent.  We do not prosper alone, you know.  Each and every achievement results from the application of many hands – hands that lift and support, hands that praise and create.  But there’s an inherent responsibility.  You’ve got to pay it forward – to give something back.  Kelley wants to give something back to Ohio, to ensure a bright future for her family and her neighbors.  She and I both want to change our world – in any way we can.

Blog Talk Radio

Maryscott O'Connor and My Left Wing present: My Left Wing Talk Radio Show

This is pretty cool stuff.  As some of you may know, I am a front-pager over at My Left Wing, one of the best political blogs out there.  It's founder, Maryscott, is launching a new enterprise: My Left Wing talk radio.  Her live show will be every Monday, 1 pm Pacific, 4 pm Eastern.  Further information on blog radio can be found here: Blog Talk Radio.  Remember - this is all live!  The call in number for any of you who'd like to participate is:

(347) 215-7634

Good Luck Maryscott!!!

Cool Happenings!

Something to crow about, my friends!  Maryscott O’Conner, the proprietress of My Left Wing has just invited me to be a front-pager.  I said yes, of course.  Being published there is an honor and a privilege.  I cannot tell you how surprised and happy I am to have been asked.  And bless her for understanding my ability to post there will be limited. I think I can safely say that my life of late has been a very interesting place to inhabit!  There’s marvelous news about Kelley’s campaign as well – but I’ll save that for next time.  For now - thank you Maryscott! 

Prayers Needed

Something unexpected has occurred.  Our own wonderful Tammie (Soul Gardening) is currently in the hospital.  A complication with her pregnancy arose out of nowhere.  Those of you who know Tammie or follow Soul Gardening know what a struggle it was for Tammie to conceive.  Her son is a miracle - and I'm asking all of you to pray that the miracles continue.  As soon as I can - I will email Chorus members with snail mail info.  In the meantime - please send healing thoughts to Tammie, her husband Jeff and a little boy who couldn't wish for better parents.

Playing Catch-up With The Collective

Hey there!  So much to talk about this time! I hardly know where to begin.  First off - I would like to point you all in the direction of A Poetic Justice. Poetry Man has published the inaugural poems in his ‘Saturday Sonata’ poetry contest.  This week’s winner is Kvatch’s wonderful and emotional poem ‘Untitled’. All of the other entries are posted as well – and they are marvelous. Poetry Man will be holding this contest on a weekly basis – so dust off your iambic pentameter and join the fray. All pertinent information is available over at A Poetic Justice.

The Collective Strikes Again!

Mind if I blow my own horn a little bit?  A piece I wrote last year following the horrors of Katrina has been picked up and featured in an article by Karen Walrond of BlogHer.  It's entitled "On The Relative Death of a Child" - and I had posted it at The Motherless - a site I now serve as editor for.  My feeling of elation at being singled out is tempered by the soberness of the subject matter.  I believe that all of life is a choice.  Saying that - I also believe that the slightest of things can tip the scales towards good or evil.

The Collective

You know - it’s always nice when good things happen to good people. Here we go!  Awards season has officially begun! 

Several of our friends have been nominated for a Weblog Award this year – quite the feather in the cap, don’t you know! Karen from Troll Baby has been selected as a finalist for Best Parenting Blog; Shakespeare’s Sister, Cute Overload, and the bright and witty team over at Bring It On are also finalists; some in competing categories.  All in all - I think that’s pretty damn cool!  So here’s the skinny:  Anyone can vote once every 24 hours over the entire length of the contest, which runs December 7^th – 25^th.  So go vote!  It’s a way of letting these wonderful bloggers know they have your support.  Congratulations to one and all!  Bravissimo!

Addendum:  I don't know how I missed this (just slap me upside the head and call me dopey!) but Alicia from Last Left Turn Before Hooterville is a finalist as well!  Thank you Diva Jood for pointing that out.  God - I hope I haven't missed anyone else.  Congratulations Alicia!  Now everyone get on over there and vote! 

Collective News

First – a reminder.  The collective are those of us who write for a living (or are looking to). There’s no membership involved – just a loose confederation dispensing the occasional atta-boy pat on the back – and lending each other a helping hand whenever possible. So – if you have any news to report – or questions to ask, feel free. The main objective is publication.  Now - time to play catch-up on what everyone’s been doing this last month. Tammie from Soul Gardening submitted samples of her work to a Florida arts and entertainment magazine. She is waiting to hear back from the publisher.  All I have to say is if that publisher has any sense she’ll snap Tammie up instantly. As for me – I’m still struggling with the whole blogging time vs. book writing time, while trying to balance maintaining life at home with an overworked hubby and three new kittens – all needful of my attention.  Throw in some stressful health issues – and I think I qualify for that vacation I know I’m not likely to get anytime soon. Ah well.  Them’s tha breaks!  As always – anything cool or interesting comes up for you – let me know and I will post it forthwith!  After all – we are all in this collective together.  Promoting each others work and accomplishments is a definite joy! 

The Collective Scores Again!

Hey, hey, ho, ho!  More good things happening to good people.  Wordgirl over at Half of the Sky has been tapped to write for The Imperfect Parent.  This is HUGE folks!  The Imperfect Parent is a major online magazine.  Hell – these folks have their own radio show!  Pretty high-falutin’ stuff here!  Quite the feather in Wordgirl’s cap.  I’m thrilled for her.  Also – Kelley Bell of For Whom The Bell Tolls has some good news of her own.  One of her articles, Who Will Buy My Sweet Red Roses has been picked up by a British online magazine called The Sideshow.  On top of that – she was contacted by Erika Lutz – senior editor for Literary Mama, and a published author in her own right.  Cheers to both of you!  And a very well-deserved pat on the back!