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Friday, October 26, 2007

Why October is a Big Deal. And why this week is Quietly Huge in a small way.

Of course, if you were here yesterday, you'll know that this month marks my mother's birthday, and as she's the woman who brought me into this crazy life, it's a good month.

And it's so stunningly beautiful in my part of the world in this time of year.




I've spent much of the last two weeks thinking about all the events that have happened in the fall for the last couple of years.

October 2005 was jam packed full of Future Milestones.

My husband bought me my first computer.

Then he suggested that I start a blog.

We brought a cute little wrinkly faced puppy home.

I got started on a nasty antidepressant reaction trip that led me to the decision to get the hell off of that stuff a few months later.

Last year I spent a whole month blogging about THE TRUTH.

Here's the The Truth About Blogging.

Here's the The Truth About Me and Drugs.

You know what? Just go to the sidebar and find the link for October 2006. I mean, there's gold in there, people. I can't believe how witty and funny and moving I was last year. Geez, I'm starting to think my bloggage has been kind of lame lately. I'm going to have to step it up a bit. Put the boots to it.

Oh look, I digressed. About where I was at last year:

I was looking back on a year that really changed my life.

As I'm one of those people obsessed with milestones and anniversaries and marking the progress of my life, I have to admit that in many ways, if I chose to be all glum about it, I could whine that I'm not much further ahead this year. I could focus on what I don't have.

I don't have my own barn, a literary agent, a Western riding coach certification. I don't even have my own computer anymore.

To which I would like to add, YET.

Those are all things I will have. If I've learned anything this year, it's how much control I actually do have over my life. Much more than I thought. There are so many things that are out of my hands- the weather, what other people think, the music business. But I can control my reaction to it. I didn't think I could, but I'm working on it.

And it's not so bad. I have my own horse again. My ancient cat is still alive, prowling and scavenging and purring me to sleep every night. My dog respects me. My kids are more fun than even last year, my husband still loves me. God has not deserted me. I'm making peace with my own scattered and fragmented mind.

So what's the big deal with October? Maybe it's feeling the end of the cycle of the year, the days shortening and the hibernation coming on. I just feel like good stuff can come out of October.

And on that happy note...

Query Letter Round Two.

Nine queries. Two rejections- and very polite encouraging ones. One in consideration! And it's an agent I think I really like. It's not a yes but it's not a no either. There is hope.

And because it's my Blogiversary Month...

YOU get to suggest a topic for next week. I plan to write about a riding lesson, the silence of really truly finishing a novel, and maybe another Hick Chic Guide. What do you want to learn how to do the Hick Chic way? What burning question keeps you staring at the wall when you should be doing something less peaceful? Should I dress up as Captain Jack Sparrow for Halloween AGAIN? Tell me what'll make my Blogiversary Month special for all of us before it's over.




And because it's Friday...




Just wouldn't be the same without him!


(ps- go over and visit The World's Bravest Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford to see how his mind bending Indispensible First Paragraph Challenge is coming along. It's voting day today!)

24 comments:

CindyDianne said...

I am SO glad Jethro is smart enough to encourage you to blog! I was looking back the other day and realized how long we've all been together... nearly two years, huh?

Hick Chic's Guide to Grocery Shopping?

Hick Chic's Guide to Tacking up a Horse?

Hick Chic's Guide to Fashion?

Heidi the Hick said...

Oh Cindy, How long we've all been together! It's true, we have this interesting little group!

Excellent suggestions for next week's topic, my dear. I'm ticking away at it right now...

Anita said...

Wow! Great post... I'm going to have to spend some time looking back at all the links!
I'm glad, too, that he encouraged you to blog... The blog world wouldn't be the same without you!

CindyDianne said...

When I started my blog, it was about 3 months before I got my first comment. I was SO excited! I would never have imagined how important my blog friends would become!

Chrys said...

My vote for blog topic is...I want to hear more about your book : )

Coffeypot said...

How about a "Hick Chic's Guide To Total Rejection From Unimaginative Totally Ignorant Publishers"

Mary said...

Just want to say hi, Heidi!

This is my first visit to your blog. It has horses!

I no longer ride, but one of my favourite things is to drive out to a place called Mungrisdale (near where I live in the north of England), and visit the ponies that roam the fells. Some are nasty and bad tempered (they have a hard life), while others are stroke-able and friendly. It’s a beautiful experience.

Marni said...

How about "Hick Chic's Guide to Raising Smart, Confident, Awesome Kids!" - I need some advice in that department... :)

Biddie said...

LOL. I really don't think that Marni needs help in that respect!

Cindy is soo right. My blog buddies have become soo important to me. Thank goodness that Jethro encouraged you, and then you got me on board.

I will read anything that you write. Anything.

dilling said...

Bravo....

katy said...

i so love reading your blogs, so glad i found you, cant remember how though, glad i found everyone, its strange how you come across a blog.
it is good news about the agencies fingers and toes crossed.

Bunny said...

Everyone has such great suggestions!!
"Hick Chic's Guide to Fashion", and "Hick Chic's Guide to Raising Smart, Confident, Awesome Kids!" get my "vote"!!

Nicole said...

Gotta go back and read those posts from last year. That was before I was HickChicified.

A Paperback Writer said...

You go, girl!
I, too, have been through the depression thing. I avoided the pills for the very reasons you described a year ago.
And it is all about control, isn't it? Once you re-grasp control of your own life, the depression slinks away to a manageable size.
Now, maybe you should know that to the ancient Celts, October 31 was Samhain or New Year. Perhaps you have Celtic blood in you.....

Heidi the Hick said...

Well, I do know I have German Swiss and French blood in me!

Isn't it hard to feel any kind of control in your life? My memory is so bad, I forget stuff every day, and it feels awful! I don't know if I'll ever totally shake the depression and I figure as long as I face it, don't run away or feel ashamed, and get on with my life, I'll get through. I'm a much different person than I was a few years ago. And that's not bad. Not at all!

Nicole, It might take you awhile. I can't stop talking. It just goes on and on and on...!

Bunny, I'm thinking fashion. Always a good topic?

Indoors, I'm glad you showed up here!

Dilling, I bow and blush...

Biddie- hug!

I dunno Marni, I don't think you need much help there. Your kids sound awesome!

Hi Mary! First time I was in England I was 18 and went through two rolls of film on wild ponies in Devon!!

Coffey- haha! I'm afraid to piss any of them off! (so far they've all been pretty nice so it's ok.)

Chrys- Okay! I should go back and put labels on teh posts where I talked about the book, eh?

Cindy, it's amazing, this little community. I had no idea when I started it where it would lead!

Aw Anita, you're sweet! It's a very small corner of the blogosphere I'm holding down here, but it's my corner, and I love it. I've got a good bunch.

THANKS YOOOOOS GUYSSSSS

raine said...

Happy blogiversary. Dates or anything with numbers are almost meaningless to me. I barely remember my kids birthdays and couldn't tell you how much they weighed (something 7 poundish. I want - hick chic's guide to blogland".

I just had this - totally unrelated to anything you've written about today - thought - is the title of you blog supposed to be hick - "chic" as in ryhmes with hick, or hich "chic" as in sheeeeek?

Lynn Sinclair said...

Congrats on your two year blog anniversary. I believe your determination to see things through will serve you well as you search for an agent.

raine said...

Man - sign me up for some spelling lessons.

Heidi the Hick said...

Lynn, thank you so much for your encouragement!

Rain, oddly enough, I'm terrible with numbers and I only remember very random dates. I associate things more with time of year.

Hick Chic's guide to blogland? Hmmm...

Yes, it's pronounced Hick Sheek rhymes with Cheek.

Although I've sort of become The Hick Chick.

Chic as in stylish and fashionable.

Simply because I look so good in my coveralls and rubber boots.

A Paperback Writer said...

Heidi,
Maybe it should be Hick Chick's Guide to Chic.
Just a thought.....

Doughnut said...

Yep Heidi, you make a fashion statement in those coveralls and boots :) Takes me back to the days in the chicken coup or pig pens.

How about a Hick Chic Guide to sanity? Would that just be pictures of Johnny?

From your previous posts, I've learned that pills, drugs and booze (oh lest I forget the relative visit!) work in reverse. Pictures, blogging, writing and horses...opps and barn cleaning seem to help but I think there is a whole lot more!

I am sure there is lots of fodder for the imagination and future posts!

FOUR DINNERS said...

My mother keeps on having birthdays n all.

Ah well. I live in hope...

Green Wellies said...

Your blog is already special and the frequent photos of our favourite Johnny is just the icing on the anniversary cake.
Barb (who has to figure out how to get her user name changed to green wellies)

Heidi the Hick said...

Hey Green Wellies on the Seaside! What? Johnny cake with special icing? Wha huh???

4D haha!

LeRoy- hmmm, Hick Chic Guide to Sanity...Good idea. I've sort of done that, but not in any specific organized kind of way. But I suspect what works for me might make other people more crazy!

Paperback, Hick Chic's guide to Chic. I like it!