Tag: Circle Magazine

New Year

by eileentroemel, posted in Life, Writing
The new year has started with more snow on the ground.  It seems like a great day to snuggle in, watch movies, have soup, and just be quiet.  Of course I will be crocheting as well.  My to do list is ever growing for crocheting.  I like it that way.
For the past two years I’ve been very focused on school to the near exclusion of everything else.  I know the new year is traditionally the time to set goals but right now I just want to look forward to not having a crazy schedule.  In general writing and crocheting are my goals for the year but getting more specific than that seems like too much at this point.
Reflecting on the last year I realize I’ve been very stressed out with school and getting things done.  I was playing Collapse last night and realized (even in the silly game) that I have very high expectations of my performance.  That is good in that it produces some really good work but it also puts a lot of stress on me.  I see that in the last year I’ve done that a lot (particularly this last semester).  I don’t see that standard changing as I move forward but finding a balance will allow me to be less stressed.  Not everything has to be PERFECT. 
This last year my girls have accomplished a lot.  Vicki got a job, Virginia lost a job and got two better jobs.  Stephanie has advanced within her job.  Ken and I are truly empty nesters now with none of our daughters at home.  Mostly I am enjoying the quiet.  This year I’ve seen my daughters more, which is wonderful.  We met up at Vicki’s for Memorial Day and Thanksgiving.  The Georgia girls made it home for Christmas.  Stephanie also flew home for weddings in the state and stayed with us.  Vicki has been back a couple of times as well.  I love visiting because we get to have the “Yeah I’m happy to see you” without the “I’m tired of being around you”.
This last year I’ve still managed to get a few things published even though I wasn’t focused too much on that.  A poem in the Muse and articles in Circle Magazine, the big deal for me was to get paid for a small article in Woman’s World. 

Overall it has been a good year full of good times.  There are always struggles but it is how we manage them that counts.  I believe we have done well with that – it is never easy to handle sorrow or difficulties but to come through them is what counts.  I’ve gotten through 2013 with more on the positive than on the negative and that is the best I can hope for.

Busy Weekend

by eileentroemel, posted in Life, Writing
Yesterday was filled with tasks and today will be the same.  In the morning we went to Sorgs to get supplies for Thanksgiving.  We came home and I worked on my paper which is due on Tuesday.  We spent some time together watching tv and having lunch before we went to Ken’s brother’s retirement party.  Then it was back home to have supper and watch more dvr stuff while I crocheted.  I finished watching The White Queen series last night while I worked on another scarf for Vicki (one she is giving away). 
In the mail yesterday I got a package from Circle Magazine and was please to find a poem and essay were published of mine published inside.  The art on the page by Sophia Gill is beautiful.  She made a stylized tree which fits the poem and the essay beautifully. 
Today will be a homework day.  Ken will go to the grocery store to gather up the last of the Thanksgiving items we need.  I will work on finishing my paper, reading two chapters, diagramming four or five sentences, doing an exercise, and starting the research on my final project.
I only have three weeks left (I think) and I’m ready to be done.  Once classes are done I will have earned my second degree.  I’m not walking for graduation – it doesn’t seem worthwhile to me to sit through a ceremony which will have no relevance for me.  I’m not going out to conquer the world with my degree.  I got this degree for me – to improve my writing and editing skills. 

It promises to be a busy day as I have a lot of homework to do and some crocheting I want to get done as well.  So much to do and hardly enough time to do it in – I’m looking forward to not being in school any longer so I can focus on my writing and crocheting rather than homework.  

Shots done… and other random news

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

For the last three weeks I’ve been getting shots of goo in my knees and yesterday was my last shot.  Now I just have to go back for a final check up.  I’ve noticed a decrease of pain in my knees though I still have pain and problems but it is a decided improvement.

Last weekend we went to Vicki’s place in Indiana and Gin and Stephanie came there from Georgia.  My nephew and our friend also joined us so we had seven in Vicki’s apartment.  Considering there were so many we did really well.  The time flew by but I think we all had a good time.  Except maybe Sasha who was not happy that Moo shoo from Georgia (Gin and Steph’s cat) came to visit too.  He was all about love me and she was all about get the hell away from me.  By Monday when they were getting ready to leave she was not having hissy fits every time she saw him.

Circle Magazine has one of my articles in it.  I was pleased to see they printed one after they had contacted me for a few to use.  This is the next thing on my list – get back to writing.  I’m supposed to take it easy this weekend (because of the shots) so I’ll work on the grad gift I still have to make.  However, once this weekend is done I’m going to switch to writing mode.  I, of course, have a to-do list.  There is a grant to write, articles for Circle, a contest, and a few other things I want to work on.

I have vacation to use up so I’ll likely be taking a few days – after my department moves – to have writing time at home ALONE.  I’m very much looking forward to having this time and being very productive.  One thing I have to tackle is cleaning my office.  It is a wreck and I need to handle it – sooner rather than later.

No kids and no pets – it has been nice in the house with just Ken and I.  I have my moments where I miss my kids but mostly, I’m quite content to be without extra people in my house.  Ken and I are figuring out how to deal with each other which is always interesting.  At least there hasn’t been any bloodshed – yet…

New Publications

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

Circle Magazine came out while I was gone to Georgia.  I wasn’t surprised to see an envelope with it in when I got back.  I knew one of my articles was in it.  I was pleasantly surprised to find they had also published two of my poems in it.  I’ve listed them on my Credits page if you are looking for the titles.

It felt good to take my copy in to work and show some of my co-workers my accomplishment.  One of my student workers asked me a question which had me going well duh.  She asked if the magazine was nationally published. 
I’ve been in published in Circle for a while now.  It always feels good to be in such a nice magazine and to see my work in print.  I never thought about it quite that way before.  When I say – I’ve been published in a nationally published magazine – that sounds so accomplished I guess. 
I hadn’t thought that my affiliation with Circle and the magazine could be looked at that way until my student worker pointed it out to me.  I’ll take the boost to my morale this gave me but try to stay humble because I’m still getting a lot of rejections.