Good Commute vs. Bad Commute

Today, I have experienced 2 insanely opposite commutes.

The first:

I sat next to a young mom and her child on the train.  For most of the ride, the little boy (about 3ish) sat on her lap and pointed out the window saying, "look at the choo choo train, that's a choo choo train, we're on a choo choo train," until it switched to "look at the wawderr, that's wawderr, look at the wawderr," UNTIL it then switched to the lightest little singing voice ever...UNTIL he feel asleep while his mom hugged him.  Honestly, I didn't know whether to cry or fall asleep in a little cocoon of happiness myself.  It was adorable.

The second:

I'm standing on the 6 train as we approach Times Square, 42nd street.  Two girls, nicely dressed, (does that matter? possibly) start pushing eachother as they exit the train.  They are sisters or something similar.  I assume this because I don't think I'd touch anyone other than my sister (10 years ago) in this way.  These girls are laughing and playing around, but taking it too far as the girl exiting first falls into the woman in front of her and apologizes.  Yet, they don't stop.  They keep pushing/hitting eachother as they shuffle off the train.  It isn't really that crazy.  Normally, they would just walk off and all would be forgotten.  Except that today a suited, gel-haired, business guy in his mid-twenties decides to get involved by throwing his hand flat against the back of the girl before him and proceeds to PUSH HER OFF OF THE TRAIN! Might I add...HARD.  It wasn't some light shove. No. He really went for it.

First thing that flashed through my mind: they must know eachother. 
Second thing: A non-homeless/crazy man shoved a woman?! Did anyone else see that?!

As the girl falls forward into the people in front of her, she turns around and screams, "Who do you think you're pushing?!" 

AND THEN, they start fighting!!!! A GUY AND A GIRL! He pushed her again (as if she was some obnoxious gnat in his way) and she totally whaled him.  The train pulled away and I literally couldn't believe what I had witnessed.  I've never seen a guy touch a girl in an aggressive manner before. It was like seeing a dog wearing rollerblades, but disturbing! What a completely unstereotypical commute. 

Yuck for not respecting personal space and yay for baby voices singing about water and choo choo trains!

xoxo
Laura

The Rebel Toothbrusher.

I have a mini rebel living within me (it's like a mini-pony, but in my brain).  It makes me enjoy things that are not supposed to be enjoyed merely because they are different and being an oddball excites me. How to deal? Growing up, I'd flunk a test here or there, draw/paint/vandalize my own bedroom walls, walk to parties instead of drive (and driving was way cooler), or NOT even attempting to have a sip of alcohol at Woodstock '99 when I was 16 and definitely could have gotten away with it.  Isn't being different fun?!  Nowadays, I still have my quirks - the walking thing, not getting an iPhone, not reading Harry Potter or Twilight, or wearing "name" brands.  There are a million things that I find myself being a little rebellious with on the regular.  And toothpaste is one of them.

As a kid, my parents would HATE how gross I allowed my toothpaste container to become.  They weren't even being mean, my toothpaste was nasty...and did no small wonders for making the hallway bathroom appear tidy.  Still, no matter how many times they begged/thought I was brain dead/pleaded for a cleaner toothpaste tube appearance, I couldn't shake my love for a freeing toothpaste application experience.  Oh, kids. So silly.

Now I am almost 30.  I have a career. I have a husband and a super-mutt.  I have my own house...with my own bathroom (see where I'm going with this).  I have my own toothpaste. And it looks like this:

Just enough room for miniscule portions of paste to squeeze out. Perfect.

This glob is hidden when houseguests are around. Don't worry.

Being a mini-rebel is tough. And somewhat disgusting.

Sorry Mom!

Whyyyy?!

I am beyond tired today.  It's like...impossible...to just...be. 

I have the day off (thank you, freelance world), so I guess that's a positive even though I'm not sure it really is.  Working is inspirational, unlike today.  I really wish I had the energy to edit my book, send out a query letter, or even find a kickass dinner recipe for tonight.  Alas, I do not.  Why must days like this exist?  My brain is processing thoughts slower than sludge slipping through a pin hole and it isn't cool.

Oh fun.  I just received an email asking me to work on a new Lifetime show next week.   I guess I can feel somewhat accomplished now, even though it's kinda sad that RECEIVING an email is my big whoop for the day.  Well, that and going to Whole Foods with my sis and neph.  That counts for something, right?

Okay, this has to stop.  I'm forcing myself to do 29 jumping jacks followed by an hour writing in Diary Girl.  Ready, set...GET MOTIVATED!

Things that make me go hmmm...

Staying positive on this whole book-writing journey has been tough to say the least.  Writing Diary Girl was the easy part compared to what comes after.  Researching agents, drafting query letters, receiving rejection notices...the list of annoyances goes on and on.  So that's why I love a good uplifting article to give me the boost I need to forge ahead and write, write, write.

Here are two of my faves:

http://www.npr.org/2012/01/08/144804084/a-self-published-authors-2-million-cinderella-story

(this one is my favorite...)

http://www.more.com/kathryn-stockett-help-best-seller

can't.give.up.
will.not.give.up.
no.matter.what.

Listening to...

A little Tom Petty to get in the mood for a day filled with laborious query letter writing and book submissions!  Let's hope one of these finally makes it into the hands of an agent wanting to add Diary Girl to their list. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TlBTPITo1I&feature=related

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!

My first book.

I wrote a book.  And it was hard.  It sucked me dry and it took a long time.  Like, a really really annoyingly long time.  Nobody tells you about that part of writing a book, how long it will take.  All anyone says is that it's "hard" or "worth it" or "such a great creative release," but they don't say, "Oh you're writing a book?  That takes a long ass time," because like all things in life - things in the past are but a distant memory.  Once you get past it, you forget the pain. You forget the struggle.  You lie to yourself and think it was great and totally worth it.

Clearly, I'm not there yet.

Although my book hasn't been published yet, I still have to believe it will be.  I mean, it took so long to write, it has to be.  There really is no other option. Not for me, anyway. 

My book is a compilation of my very own high school diary entries as I navigate my way through the 4 most confusing years of my life.  Diary Girl is a tale of self-exploration, insecurity, and learning.  It is my life, but in a way it could be anybody's.  So, I guess that's why I did it.  And I guess that's why I'm starting this blog, too.  Because no matter how old I get, I'll always be a diary girl, through and through.

I am a diary girl.  This is my life.