National DV Awareness Month
Category: News and Politics

Just a quick post to remind everyone that October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Please consider donating or volunteering at one of your local domestic violence shelters. Women and their children need your help. You could save a life.

www.greeneyedwriter.blogspot.com

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Oprah’s Book Club
Current mood: envious

Wow! Can you believe I have not blogged in over an entire month? If you read my last entry you know why. Going back to work teaching full-time and mommying a toddler full time barely gives me any writing time! It's either sleep or write and you know how much this gal loves catching her some serious zzzzz's. But I promise to post a preview chapter of The Gospel According to Gabby super soon.

What I do want to gripe about today, displaying not the least amount of jealousy of course (did you notice the color of this text?) is how damn lucky that David Wroblewski is. If you are not familiar with this Polish fellow, his debut novel, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, is Oprah's latest Book Club pick. What a lucky s.o.b. that guy is. You know everything Oprah touches or even farts on turns to gold, right?

If Confessions of a Catholic Schoolgirl was an Oprah Book Club pick, can you imagine how much money I would be able to give to domestic violence non-profits? So many beds, toiletries, toys, food, and counseling could then be available to all the battered moms out there that have no place to go. A teen novel may not be Oprah's cup of tea, or one of her "favorite things" but what she does love to do is help others. And Oprah if you're out there, remember this writer/mom/teacher is personally donating 25% of profits from my book to help end domestic violence in the U.S. Won't you please help a sister out?

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The 3 Hardest Jobs in the World
Current mood: breezy

What are the three hardest jobs in the world? Can you guess? No? Then I will tell you, because they are the three jobs that I currently have.


1. Mother
2. Teacher
3. Writer

Yes, I will be blogging about these jobs today. If you've noticed my tagline, my 4th "hat" that I wear is Dreamer. We all know dreaming is easy.

Mother. It's a full time job, whether you work outside or inside the home. I only have one kid and it's not always easy, especially when he is only three; wanting independence, craving a nap, or throwing a tantrum. Today after a long day at the subdivision swimming pool, Xander decided he needed to poop in every stall in the women's bathroom. After much pushing and sighing, he managed to drop about one kid off at each of the four "pools" before accepting help getting dressed. He's FINALLY mastered the potty training and not pooping in his pants anymore, so who I am to judge this bizarre bowel movement ritual? Twenty minutes later, emerging dry and completely dressed from head to toe, he escapes and runs back into the swimming pool. Very exasperating.
I drag him out out the pool, redirect him to the car and in a tiny voice, he said, "I'm sorry."

Motherhood. The most challenging and rewarding job in the world. HIP HIP HOORAY TO ALL THE MOMS.

Teacher. Yet, another extremely challenging job, yet rewarding as well. I think my job teaching at-risk urban teenagers is especially challenging, with the rewards not always immediate. I look around at the feel-good slogans surrounding my home office and classroom on the many plaques, photo albums, knick-knacks, etc. that I receive. "Teaching is a work of heart" and "Teachers make a difference." There's also one that proudly states "Teachers preserve the past, reveal the present and create the future." WOW! Do we really do all that? I know I try to do that in my classroom, but are my students trying to LEARN what I TEACH them?
"Teachers do it with class!" Hmm??? According to all the recent reports about female teachers on CNN lately, this one should be removed from all t-shirts and mugs immediately! :)

A BIG SHOUT OUT TO THE MOST UNDERPAID PROFESSIONALS IN THE WORLD!


Writer. The final role that I play in life. Challenging when the words don't flow as easily as they should and the sales don't grow as quick as they could. I read once that writers don't write because they like to, they write because they HAVE to. This is something my husband doesn't understand when I vent to him about struggling with the writing of my next book. I can't just take a break on writing, like he suggests. I've had paid writing gigs and unpaid gigs, the rewards come with the CREATION of a finished piece and my BYLINE on it. Who wouldn't want to be the next J.K. Rowling? In the meantime, writing this blog has made me discover that my 3 jobs
are all linked together. 1 mother + 1 teacher + 1 writer= CREATOR.

I have CREATED a beautiful, healthy son, I try to CREATE students into future leaders, and now I have to work on CREATING my next novel. Till next time, see you in my dreams.

www.michellekane.com

GET LIT...read CONFESSIONS OF A CATHOLIC SCHOOLGIRL

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Pedophile Priests
Category: Religion and Philosophy

I am a Catholic school survivor. I am also a child of a domestic violence survivor.
Thank God I never had to survive being abused by a pedophile priest.

According to the organization "Bishop Accountability" more than 4,000 priests, out of the 42,000 in the United States, were accused of abusing scores of children.

How does this happen? How can such a trusted person who devotes his life to serving God sexually abuse a child? Priests who thought they got away with it years ago are now serving time in jail and the Catholic Church is paying out millions to the victims and their families. It's about time. Now it's time to take care of the future. Our children are the future. How do we prevent Catholic children from suffering abuse by priests now and in the future?

How do survivors of pedophile priests move on and have normal, healthy lives and relationships? How do they FORGIVE? How do they LOVE?
Pedophile priests MURDER childhoods.

Should priests be allowed to marry an individual other than God?
Should we never trust a priest to be alone with our child?
Should we turn away from the Catholic Church?
Should we just forget about it and pretend these things don't happen?
What do you guys think?

www.michellekane.com

10:02 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

THUG 4 LIFE: DETROIT MAYOR KWAME K.
Category: News and Politics

It's bad enough people who don't live in Detroit or have never visited Detroit think terrible things about the city, our bad rep has made a turn for the worse with the mayor of Detroit spending the night in the slammer. Kwame Kilpatrick will go down in history, not as a great leader, but as the first seated mayor in the entire country to spend time in jail.

Laughable because Kwame had it coming to him, but sad for the city of Detroit to have such an embarrassment posing as a leader who was "changing the city around for the better." Kwame is the biggest THUG in a city known for THUGS. Detroit Public Schools are failing, the auto companies are struggling, the neighborhoods are crumbling and now our mayor, who "allegedly cheated on his wife" with his Chief of Staff and lied on the stand in a whistle blower lawsuit, is finally behind bars.

Kwame has to go. What do you guys think?

www.michellekane.com

8:35 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

THIS is THE LAST LECTURE
Category: News and Politics

It is not about achieving your dreams but living your life. If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself. The dreams will come to you.

I thought this quote from the late Randy Pausch tied in nicely from one of my earlier posts questioning if chasing dreams was just a waste of time. I totally agree with this quote and strive each day to live it out loud. I am, of course, still waiting for the good karma to come. Patience. Faith. BELIEVE. I think I'm leading my life the right way, are YOU?

Never underestimate the importance of having fun. I'm dying and I'm having fun. And I'm going to keep having fun every day because there's no other way to play it.

This quote reminds me to live in the moment and not just for a wish or hope. Sometimes sadness and frustration kill you just a little more each day and you have to be remember to count your blessings, and have FUN because you never know if tomorrow will come.

Brick walls are there for a reason. They are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop people who don't want it badly enough.

I have a love/hate relationship with this quote. Does it contradict with number one above? Is my brick wall stopping the good karma from flowing into my life? Staying up late reading, watching TV, blogging, or shopping online could possibly be brick walls that I built myself? Instead of finishing my next book and spending time doing some actual WRITING, please re-read quote number 2 again.

www.michellekane.com

Currently listening : Detours By Sheryl Crow Release date: 2008-02-05

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KID ROCK ROCKS DETROIT
Category: Music

Here's a little review for all of you that missed Kid Rock's sold-out hometown performances. For those of you who have not seen this latest tour, you need to RUN to the closest city and go to this concert. I was lucky enough to score V.IP. tix to the SO HOTTEST show this summer.

Uncle Cracker warmed up the crowd with his radio friendly hits until KID finally took the stage to much anticipation and excitement from the crowd. If you are into people watching, KID has a such a melting pot of fans, besides the great performance on stage there is much to look at in the audience. From young to old, rednecks to yuppies everyone enjoyed the show. At one point KID even told the crowd that he loves how all of us are different, but that we all share a common bond of coming out to hear some great f*ckin music. KID then instructed all of us to HIGH FIVE the fans around us. I definitely was feeling not only the 85 degree heat dancing outside on a balmy, Michigan night, but I was feeling the LOVE.

Halfway through the show RUN from the legendary rap group RUN DMC joined KID on stage to jam out together beloved classics like, WALK THIS WAY, IT's TRICKY, IT'S LIKE THAT and many others. The crowd was loving it and RUN thanked us and KID for bringing him out of retirement. KID ROCK proved that once again he can rap, sing country, rock out to a medley of AC/DC and Ted Nugent and slow things down with PICTURE without missing a beat.

My favorite part of the night was singing along with the crowd to AMEN and ALL SUMMER LONG. At just over a little two hours, my money was well spent and not only did I witness a great performance from KID ROCK and one of the best concerts I've ever been too, (sorry CREED, LOLLAPALOOZA, and PEARL JAM) but I had the time of my life.

DON'T miss KID ROCK in concert. You'll be singing SWEET HOME ALABAMA all summer long!


www.michellekane.com

Currently listening : All Summer Long Release date: 2008-07-22

2:58 PM - 3 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Chasing Dreams or Wasting Time?
Current mood: blessed
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes

I can't believe I am writing two young adult novels simultaneously right now (kind of.) Just to give you an update, I am done with the first chapter of THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO GABBY and I know, what happened to KIDS OF 8 MILE HIGH? Well, I am still working on that project, although it has become somewhat of a "backburner book" for now. The good news is a FREE sample chapter will be available soon. Maybe I'll post it here.
When I am not being a suburban wife, teacher, mother, cook, housekeeper, boo boo kisser, chauffeur, etc. (or should I say WHILE) I am writing: personal essays, blogs, book chapters, and in my son's journal that I keep for him.

When I CREATE, even if it's not that SUCCESSFUL, I feel more ACCOMPLISHED. As if my I am one step closer to seeing my dreams and goals become real and possible. I have HOPE.

So here's the thing: I was really frustrated the other day from a mad mess of writer's block and expressed my feelings to my husband, whose response was, "You can't expect to accomplish a goal or conquer a dream to make you happy."

Wait a minute. What?

I told him that it was important for us to teach our son that he should follow his dreams and that he can accomplish any of his goals with hard work and determination.

My husband said, "Yeah, but you can't expect dreams and goals to make you happy."

I know. Total Mars and Venus, right? Some people are simple---work your 9-5, come home, open a beer, watch sports, spend time with your family, etc. That makes them happy. I am happy and grateful for all that I have. But others are always striving for more, it doesn't mean they are not happy with their typical, American suburban lives, but a dream coming true is a dream come true.

What do you make of this? Do WE need MORE? Will you not be HAPPY until your DREAM comes true? DO you still have a DREAM?

Currently listening : Rock and Roll Jesus By Kid Rock Release date: 2007-10-09

8:52 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Door-to-Door Mosquitoes
Current mood: frustrated
Category: Life

I had just put my 3-year-old down for a much needed nap, when our dog went berserk barking and growling at the front door. This is the 3rd time this week solicitors have come to my door. First, it was the magazine guy while scrambling to get out of the house, then there was the coupon book girl during dinner, and now a Health Care bill petitioner asking me questions, pleading for my signature---during NAP TIME.

Nap time is not only needed for a cranky toddler, but it is also a necessity for a tired mother. But with always a million things to do and get done, instead of using that time to relax...read a book or watch some television, I need to clean or do laundry, start dinner, get some writing done, check email, etc.

So no, there is NOT a good time to come back later or call back later. Why do they always ask this? If I need to purchase something I will go out and buy it, thank you. I will not buy it at my front door during NAP TIME, or dinner time, or any other time.

Now get off my property! Please tell me I am not the only homeowner annoyed by this summer explosion solicitation.
   GET LIT...www.michellekane.com

9:34 PM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

The Time Capsule
Category: Fashion, Style, Shopping

Currently watching : Weeds - Season Three Release date: 2008-06-03

3:40 AM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment