Published!

It was with great pride that I can now utter the words, I am published. In fact, when asked what was new with me the other day I may have squealed out those same three words. I can't help it, I don't mean to brag but I just cannot contain my excitement. In the span of two weeks I received news that I had a poem printed in my District's "The Write Stuff" magazine and then, that an essay of mine won fourth overall in New Brunswick and was being published in a "Turning Points" magazine that is printed all over Canada.

It feels so weird to write bios of myself to be printed but most of all it seems weird that I have the possibility to do so! I am still on a high and am so excited to attend the launch next Monday. It feels as if numerous doors have opened up before me and I am still staring at them, dumbfounded. Everything that I am striving towards seems so much closer. The opportunities I have been given in the form of writing workshops has given me the possibility to interact and communicate with published authors and has improved my writing.

When school is getting harder and I am getting frustrated, just taking a step back puts everything into perspective. In a few more weeks I will be done with Chemistry, the equations will go away and I will have gained another aspect of knowledge. And in the mean-time, I am being bloody published, I can't stay frustrated when I think of that.

My Home Town

I will be the first of my friends to admit that I cannot wait to move away. Unlike my friends however, it has nothing to do with my home town, because I love my home town. Sure, it may not have the coolest stores to shop--I would flip for a Yankee Candle or BBW-- but it I love it. I love our uptown area, you can walk around and see all of the characters in the book; from the homeless to the snobby. I love the second-hand bookshops we have uptown and the awesome space that is our City Market.

I was walking from my Dad's to my Mum's today (relatively pissed off) and couldn't help but fall in love with my city all over again. It certainly is no Rome, or New York, or Quebec, but it's home, I can't help but fall in love every time I go for a walk uptown. I love the old architecture that it has to offer, brick buildings with beautiful awnings and old stone churches litter uptown. Whenever I walk around I can't help but stare with a silly smile dancing on my face. I think about who lived in this buildings before, who walked this streets. For a history junkie, living in a city that has visible historical features still present is a drug.

Like I said earlier, there are many characters uptown. You never know who you are going to meet. From the old bum who always asks for three quarters to the the kind gentlemen who would never has a lady for change, we have them all. Certainly, a few of them are crazy, a few  are off no worse than you or I, and a few are kind souls.

Here where I live, you never know what you are going to run into on these streets. But even while touring the streets in a bad mood, the buildings will still put pretty thoughts in my head. And when you met a kind stranger who tells you that you are a beautiful young lady when your hair is falling out of its haphazard bun and sweat is glistening on your face, I can't help but love all of the surprises my home town has to offer.

Books!

For the first time in a long while I have decided to do another inspiration for a rainy day post! On Friday night I visited a church book sale in my town and I must say I was in my element completely. I did restrain myself however and only cam away with five books. I regret it a little, not buying more that is, but I am very happy with my purchases.

- An old Mrs. Browning poetry book that I picked up for the cover and age alone.
- Translation:Aistreann-Tammy Armstrong, a book set in my home province about a girl who moves to Ireland and back, I couldn't refuse!
- The Best of Times-Penny Vincenzi,that HUGE book about how one day affects four different strangers on the same path.
- Letter Writing, a book from the 20's on the importance of writing letters and how to do so.
- A Cup of Comfort for Writers, I saw this book and just couldn't help myself, the stories are heart-warming and I think that a writer on any scale can understand writer's block and feeling inadequate.

All for $2.50...I am a very happy camper who is overjoyed with her pile of books, but first I have to finish The Game of Kings; set it Scotland 1457! I must saw when I do tackle this stack of books, I am looking forward to reading Translation:Aistreann the most.