Married to the Empire

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Well, that was a pleasant surprise!

I met some friends early this morning to go to a big craft fair. I was gone most of the day, so I didn't get a chance to read the newspaper until this evening. I started reading the "Hints from Heloise" column and found the first sentence vaguely familiar. Um, that would be because it was my own writing!

Yep, I'm published today, and I didn't even know about it!

That was just really weird to suddenly realize I was reading my own writing in a syndicated column. I kind of figured Heloise's people would contact folks before printing their hints, but apparently not.

Just found a link where you can read it online (if you're actually interested). Wow, I feel like a dork leading you to my tiny moment of fame in an advice column. Mine is the one about the cat (Calvin) ingesting chemically-treated grass. It's something that happened years ago, and I just got around to emailing it in to Heloise about a month ago. I'm really on the ball with stuff.

7 comments:

Ann said...

So...what did you write? Inquiring minds want to know! :) And congrats on getting published!!

Anne Marie@Married to the Empire said...

Just added a link where you can read it.

I call my cats my little muses. They actually scored me a spot in Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul a couple of years ago. Only thing I've ever submitted for publication (I don't count writing to Heloise as the same thing!), and it was actually published. The pittance of cash I made from it was then spent on the boys because they both came down with eye infections about the time my check arrived. I guess it was only fitting that the money made on their story should be spent on them.

But really, it was like they planned it or something. Hmph! ;-)

abby - the geek girl said...

Hey thanks for stopping by my blog!! :) Yeah I start student teaching next semester... it's honestly a lot harder than I thought it would be. Where in Texas do you tutor? I'm in Houston. They are getting rid of the TAKS soon you know, replacing it with end of course... will you still tutor?

Anne Marie@Married to the Empire said...

I'm in a suburb of Dallas.

Yeah, teaching can be very exhausting. I didn't have much of a life my first year because I was spending my evenings with lesson plans and grading. Once you get past all that, though, it's much easier.

You know, I didn't know that they were getting rid of the TAKS. I have no idea if I'll still tutor or not. I'm actually a substitute teacher these days, but I rarely do it. That's actually how I got the tutoring gig, as they were looking for certified subs to do the tutoring. The school I tutored in was so impressed (my 7th graders had a 100% pass rate!) that I was offered a job. :-) But I chose to just remain as the tutor for another year.

I really prefer not working outside the home, but I'll do classroom stints here and there if it's something I'm interested in.

What is your content area?

Cathy VanPatten said...

Cool! And it's a great idea.

*carrie* said...

Ewokgirl,

Thanks for sharing your claim to fame! I found another one--as I was reading the most recent issue of "Counting the Cost," I read an entry that reminded me of you--sure enough, there was your name at the end!

Anne Marie@Married to the Empire said...

Carrie, yep, that was me! I'd forgotten about that...