Thanks, but no thanks! - Dealing with rejection.

So my main hobby (wish it was my career) is writing. I wrote and self-published a novel and it did okay. The main reason it was self-published is because of the 30 query letters/e-mails I sent out to agents none came back wanting to represent me. Of those that did respond it was usually a form letter the gist of which said Thanks, but no thanks.
Years ago my wife gave me an article that talked about how tough it was to get published, but not to fret Grisham's first novel "A Time to Kill" was rejected by 30 agents before it was picked up (I still have that article).
Once again I'm trying to find an agent for my latest novel and once again I have received a few rejections. And just like last time I'm keeping them all.
Instead of getting down it just fuels me more. One day it will be my name in an article and my book that too many agents passed over. And I'll have all the rejections letters/e-mails and the last laugh.
The best way to deal with rejection is not to let it beat you down. You need to use it as fuel to say "Okay, if that's what you think I'll show you." Then you go out and get better and stronger and they'll be the ones with the second thoughts.

Shutterbug Junkie?

Well if you haven't noticed from my earlier posts I kinda like taking pictures. The wife says I'm addicted (just like I'm addicted to all of my hobbies). so for this post I've decided to post random shots I've taken over the last couple of months. I hope you can see the beauty that I see...

"I Will Kill You!"

Most people will never have those words directed at them in the manner in which harm is intended. But day in and day out that and worse is spewed towards Corrections Officers; in a lot of cases multiple times a day.

Imagine willingly locking yourself inside a building furnished with concrete and steel surrounded by deviants whom sit around all day plotting their next crime, which could include smashing your skull in or driving a pencil, spoon, or a piece of scrap metal into your spleen. And when you’re not the subject of their threats your spouse and children are; the threat of someone killing you quickly becomes welcome.

For the general public the closest thing I can imagine is driving down the highway while all the other drivers suffer from road rage. Now make that drive for 12 hours.

Well, at least we get paid.

Love, the Fountain of Youth

I rolled over to see my wife lying on her side. I could tell from her breathing she was awake, so I snuggled up behind her.
“I’m almost 40,” she says defeated.
“No, you’re almost 36,” I said and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
Today is her 35th birthday. She looks great and in my mind she looks no different then she did 17 years ago when we first started dating.
“Close enough, might as well start making funeral arrangements.”
I chuckle and she asks what.
“You remind me of Billy Crystal in ‘City Slickers’.”
“Or Meg Ryan in ‘When Harry Met Sally’,” she counters.
“Yes, or that. You’re 35, no where near dead.”
Today is her birthday, October 25. And she is as lovely as she has ever been.
I think of myself and picture 24-25 year old. I’m not getting any older, so neither is she, right?
We get up and go find our girls making birthday cards. My joints pop with each movement and my elbow has been hurting for a month now. She tells me I need to get a cortisone shot and in my head that’s what old people do when they can’t heal. Are we getting that old?
No, we’re just getting close enough to that age we can see it on the horizon and I think it scares us.
But I look at her and she’s no older then the day I asked her to marry me.
My aches make me feel old. Watching my kids grow makes me feel old. But growing along her side makes time stand still. As long as she is with me I will always be young and I hope she feels that way too.
Happy Birthday, Baby!

Shred some Foam - Homemade Skimboards.

My nephews are into all kinds of sports and in turn like to decorate their room as such. Well, one of the things they are into is skimboarding. When I was a kid down in Homestead we used to make our own out of plywood, so when their mom asked me if I'd do some custom paint on a couple she bought I figured I'd do better and make them.

So here's the deal, since they're going on the wall you want to use luan plywood, thin and light. The quickest way to get your template? We bought a skimboard, traced the outline on the luan, and of course returned the skimboard. Hey, sometimes it pays to be lazy!


Jigsaw works just fine on these.



For the tail I used a scroll saw. You can use the jigsaw just as easy, but I've got a scroll saw and wanted to play a little.


You want to be as close as possible to your line, but don't worry if it's a little wavy, luan sands real easy so you can knock those out.


I started out using the airbrush, but that became too time consuming.


So I opted for the good old original, spray paint.


The finished projects focused around their names. I then painted and drew in various surf brand names and symbols to try and make them look authentic.
The boys seemed pretty stoked (I think they still use that) and they should look good hanging on the wall. The boards that is.

15 Years and Counting

Today marks the fifteenth year I have been with the Sheriff's Office. Oh the stories I could tell, but those will have to wait another ten years. You know, to protect the innocent and all.
When I started this gig I made a mental note that I wanted to make it fifteen years, and now that milestone has been reached I feel kind of funny. It has become more of a reminder how life goes by and slows down for no one.
I've been watching the calendar, waiting for this day to come, excited at making that achievement, only to become saddened with the thought of time lost. I used to say that nothing makes you feel old like watching your kids grow up. Well, I guess watching your career go by does that as well.
I'm saying it now, I wont stand by and watch life go by anymore. Of course whether or not that will happen, only time will tell.

Fresh Life

Went to the Sarasota Farmer's Market today. Always a busy event on Saturday mornings and yet the snowbirds really haven't made they're way down.
Of course I had my camera on hand so here are some pics...




This guy was working a harmonica outside the Gator Club in hopes for some spare change.





Here's Peanut "Stopping to smell the flowers."




Peanut wondering if the circus would be for her. I wonder sometimes myself.











Good fun with lots of interesting characters, food, and deals. Makes for good photos.