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Gnorm was not pleased at all when we told him that the train left at 6:30 am. He thought the only reason to get up at 6:30 was for a Chelsea match.
We got him a little breakfast and he was okay. He wanted a Starbucks, but the Indy train station doesn't have one. He was po'ed.
In the end, he enjoyed the ride and the fine Indiana countryside.
The FIRST thing we did was go up the Sears Tower!
It was a bit hazy, but all in all, we enjoyed it. However, we ran into some Manchester United fans at the top! Who lets these people OUT?!?
We checked out the Illinois office building thingy place...it's very...70's.
Gnorm checked out a couple of sights before shopping the Magnificent Mile!
All Gnorm bought was truffles. His budget is low since losing his blogging job.
He was SUPER excited to go to the Cubs game!
We hopped the El.
Sadly, it rained and rained on us, and the game was cut short!
Gnorm so did want to sing with Harry Carey!
Gnrom was impressed with Wrigley Field
Gnrom had a proper Chicago Dog and Peanuts. We steered him away from the beer.
The next day, we wandered about aabout Chicago. We spent like two hours walking along the Lake. Yeah, took no pictures of that.
Did get a picture of the Japanese Tourists!
We then wandered out to Oak Park to check out Frank Lloyd Wright's place.
Then...we headed home. Kate enjoyed her trip and plans to come back and see us again some time! She's fun to travel with, so we've talked about maybe meeting up somewhere and traveling!
And....a couple of picks of the babies swimming!
Lana and Piper!
Cole and Julie!
And Harper!
I blame myself, which was why I shelled out and took the little guy to the Indianapolis 500.
He was up at the crack of dawn and wanted to get right going. I sighed and told him the race wasn't until 1. He sighed and said he'd meet up with us there.
I know, I know, I'll never learn...
It's like Where's Waldo?
He got involved in some debaucherous behavior in the Coke Lot...
I dusted him off and took him on to the race. He puked when he saw how far away we'd parked.
We met some colorful people along the way...
Ticket in hand, we entered the Speedway.
First stop was the gift shop. Gnorm talked me into a nice Marco Andretti shirt.
We hung out and checked out the garages. Not much action, so we moved on.
Things were really buzzing at the entrance to Gasoline Alley.
He was loving the pits and had his photo on these tired.
They let you stand on the track! Gnorm wanted to stay, but I told him that in about an hour, there would be cars going 200+ mph by soon, so he took off!
I caught up with him pining for a Lemon Chill. I told him that the last time I'd had one at the track, I'd puked in a port-o-let...
We sat behind the pits and got to watch Jimmy Vasser argue with a cardboard gecko.
We sang Back Home Again in In-di-an-A...and the flyover was seriously awesome!
Gnorm made some friends as the little guy always does...
In the end, Helio Castroneves won the race!!!
Gnorm enjoyed his day out. Tuesday, he and I are off to Chicago with my friend Kate visiting from England. Gnorm will keep you all posted!
On the advice of my publishing course teacher, I have set up a website to advertise my writing (apparently the gnome site really wasn't going to cut it...what? U no wanna publish gnome?) http://www.geocities.com/sereck196/Susan
Many apologies to my poor mother who already has a heck of a time trying to keep up with all my pages. Just read the gnome, mom, he's the most entertaining thing I got going, to be sure!
I'm hoping (as soon as I figure out the flippin' web builder software...) to post up some links to my writing so people can get on and see what I've done.
So far the class has been fairly informative, though a lot of it I already knew- you know, publishing is a b*tch and they're really not interested in you, your blood sweat and tears, or your baby you have painstakingly created unless it will make them money. As it is with most of the world.
I've only been to one class so far as anyone in the midwest knows, we were snowed up to our eyeballs last Thursday and class was cancelled. However, I have also been instructed to read her site and check out her author interviews, so as it is 7 pm on Tuesday night, I better skeedaddle on over to my homework.
I'll keep ya posted....
- Mood:busy
Well, after much advice from well meaning and often knowledgeable friends, I've decided that a pile of envelopes and a list of agent's addresses were not going to be the only tools I would need to get a book published. Therefore, I have signed up fo two courses through the IUPUI community learning network that will get me moving forward. (those who can do, those who can't sign up for a course!) The first one is about getting the novel written and in shape for publishing. While I think the novel is in good shape, it never hurts to have a second opinion from someone who doesn't love me! They also talk about how to market, etc. The second one is more toward the publishing angle. It runs 12 weeks total from Jan 21 to April like some time, 2 hours on a Weds eve. Rather reasonably priceded too, though it is on the whole, entire opposite side of Indaianpolis from here, but at least it doesn't start til 6!
And if this doesn't work, they also offer a lovely paper mache course and I can make art out of my rejection letters...
I haven't been on for a month! I know. Publishing news: nil (well, there was the rejection on a yellow slip of paper not unlike a POST-IT) I had the excuse in November of writing a new novel, and well...after a month of rejections, I'm losing some will. Never fear, dear readers, I will get back on in!
Anyway, while I've been writing, Gnorm was off to a fine Indiana tradition, a basketball game! Here's his latest adventure.
Well, I must back up a little bit. Gnorm got a chance to visit grandma back in October. Susan was off to see her grandma and grandpa, and Gnorm saw her off.
Grandma spoils Gnorm!
He got to play with all of Grandma's toys, and then she let him climb trees!
Susan might have to have a word with Grandma!
She also took him to the mall. She spoils him rotten!
So anyway, back to today and Gnorm's first basketball game.
Gnorm is not enjoying the Indiana winter. The two inches of snow we got today was up to his knees!
The game was at 1:30, but to get downtown for some lunch and the game, we had to leave before the Chelsea match was over today. We got his satellite radio hooked up and he heard the last 20 minutes in the car. Chelsea won 2-0, so he forgave us.
Gnorm had a little Chick-fil-a, and then got grandma's birthday gift at Carson Pirie Scott. Gnorm hopes Grandma likes it. It's not the color Gnorm would pick, but I told him Grandma would like it.
Then it was on to Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianpolis Colts. It's brand shiny new. This was the very first basketball game there. Half of the field was still down. Many, many moons ago, Susan got to lie in the middle of the field at the Colts old home, the Hoosier Dome.
So Gnorm kept up the tradition.
Gnorm wanted to check out the hardwood, but the nice man at the gate wouldn't let him!
So we went to our seats
Not too bad! Gnorm enjoyed the game even though IU lost. He saw that basketball can be fun, too. Though, he did have issues with the fact that IU is red and white. He doesn't care for red teams in general. I told him it was okay, he could be a Duke fan!
On the way out, Gnorm wanted a beer. We said no.
Gnorm will be back in England soon to see his Chelsea. He will document it all on his other blog: http://cfcfacebookblog.sports.officelive.c
Right...so after IU, there was Ohio State v Notre Dame. There were some IDIOT Notre Dame fans behind us. Here is a random collection of quotes:
"I bet there will be a lot of Ohio State fans here because Indiana and Ohio are like...close."
"Basketball coaches can really get into it with refs"
"I'll take any t-shirt as long as it fits"
"Are those Ohio State fans? Because if they are, we're gonna have a rumble."
"#3 is scrappy."
"I bet the Indiana fans are the ones booing all the bad calls"
"Isn't that a problem if the person fouled doesn't want to shoot free throws?"
"Dude, this team is no Marquette!"
"We need to get the double bonus so they can shoot the one and one."
"All you do is roll it on the black thing?"
"Are you for serious?"
"The hardest part about playing cymbals is the mmm-cht part"
"I keep waiting for that thing (the scoreboard) to fall becuase it looks like it's hung on rubber bands. I bet the floor would be destroyed because it's like, hardwood."
and our fave: "They're like a team that's gonna win on sheer talent without even trying."
It's really the bandaid ripping method of agent seeking.
Well, and in less than 48 hours, I have to start a new novel and won't have the time to be agent shopping. It'll take a month for all 12 rejections to come in, certainly, freeing up my time for what I'd rather be doing anyway, writing.
- Mood:
drained
Ah, the first rejection is in. At the moment, I'm trying to decide how I feel about it. I was fairly certain this was coming. I mean, I won't lie and say that there was a little hope somewhere in there that maybe I'd get lucky. I mean, honestly, I thought this was the best agent to represent me, so that they were unexcited, is certainly disappointing. I think the worst of it is that now I have to go again, and that is boring and hard. I suppose at least I got rejected before Saturday when national novel writing month begins, so I have two days to fling it out there again before I begin the next novel.
On the plus side, the rejection did say "Your writing does show promise and we wish you the best in your search for representation." Maybe this is just their form letter and they say that to everyone, but you know, gotta take what you can get, right?
Right, break out the Jack and the Writer's Market and see if we can't get going on rejection #2!
- Mood:indescribable
So a week into the wait, and I wonder if there is something more I should be doing than waiting. I mean, I could, pessimistically (or realistically) be getting it ready to send out to other agents. However when the first one said it would be 1-2 months, my motivation is low. To be fair, I have been trying to keep up with my day job (end of the nine weeks) and plotting my next novel. I could be working on it right now. However, I am writing to you fine people and watching soccer.
It's nearly national novel writing moth anyway. (www.nanowrimo.org) I have about 10 more days to get this year's novel planned. I think I have an idea what I want to do for it. I need to work on that too...
Wow...this is a quality soccer match....
- Mood: drained
Gnorm has offered to keep you entertained while we wait to hear from the agent. He got a road trip out to the beautiful fall countryside in Indiana.
Poor little guy is restless. I got him a job writing for a football website and even have encouraged him to look after my plants as a hobby, but he's just not a homebody.
There was no football this weekend for him, and we found him trying to start the car. We gave him and offered to take him on a little trip.
Our first stop was our favorite little tea room in Carmel. We needed tea and Gnorm scoured the place for some early Christmas shopping.
However, we were not on a shopping trip, and we bundled him back into the car. The fall leaves were calling our name.
We did take a quick stop at a farm market for some of the last tomatoes of the season. Gnorm also picked out his pumpkin:
The scenery was amazing. Gnorm loved the long roads and even the corn fields. He agreed that there aren't too many more beautiful sights in the world than Indiana in the fall.
We stopped at our favorite ice cream shop for some tasty shakes. They have over 100 choices on the menu. Gnorm stared at the menu for a good half hour before ordering a chocolate shake. Sigh...
That evening, we took Gnorm to his first real weenie roast.
He ate until his little self was stuffed. He had hot dogs, chili, nachos, and his body weight in dessert. He loves a weenie roast.
Gnorm is happy to help distract me in any way we can. Whatta guy.
- Mood: restless
The website for this agent is not exactly 'encouraging'. It says they get 50 submissions A DAY. Oh, and if their mailbox is full, please do try again in a few days. I 'should hear from them in 1-2 months'. Sigh...the wait begin. Some agents will take your query even if you are sending it to more than one agent at a time. This one wouldn't. However, this agent seemed to be one most interested in my writing style, so I decided to take a chance and start here.
I'll let you know when they reject it.
- Mood:
anxious
Editing sucks, man. It's like, no matter how many times you read something over, you go back one more time, and then there's five more things wrong with it. When do you stop? WHEN DOES THE MADDNESS END?
Gnrom is a little sad that my latest project does not involve any traveling or beer drinking. Mostly sitting on the floor drinking coffee. He's not allowed to have coffee.
Right, enough procrastinating....
- Mood:
sick
BUT, if I'm doing this I'm doing it right, so away we go with the red pen in hand. I tried to get Gnorm to help, but he's busy with his blog (gnome with a blog- he's gonna get a book deal before I do, you realize this)
Anyway, the goal is still sending it by the end of the month. I gotta write another one in November! (Yes, I might just be insane...)
- Mood:
cranky
Yep, blog fans, we've changed directions. The England adventure has come to an end, but the blog fans want to know more. (well, my grandma does, anyway...)
I've decided to re-dedicate this blog to my latest pursuit: getting my novel published. As most of you know, I've written several novels, and one of them just might be good enough to be published (okay, it SO totally is, but we'll have to see if the people in the publishing world agree) I could go the self publish route, but it's not so much a desire to see my work in print, but a real desire to have it 'accepted'. I know it's good, if anyone wants to read it, let me know and I'll email you a copy (or you could wait for a first edition, soon to be found in your local book store :P) It's a challenge, and I need challenges. The Fulbright scholarship was aquired and fulfilled, and Susan doesn't sit back and do nothing real well.
It's just the next logical step, really. Bring on the rejection letters!! I have no illusions that this is going to be easy, but hey, we all need a hobby, right?
So, for step one, I've got a copy of Writer's Market and am about to send my baby off to some agents to see who might like it. Maybe, hopefully. I've spent my day carefully crafting my 'query letter' (thanks to Shannon for reading 10 drafts of it!) and am compling a list. You can only send it out to one agent at a time, so let the waiting game begin.
For those of you not in the know, most of the time, you need to find an agent and then they will approach the publishing houses on your behalf. You can go directly to the publishers, but this way the agent, for a fee of course, does all the negotiating and such. Getting and agent is no gurantee of getting published, so if I make that hurdle, we are still a LONG way from the shelves.
Anywho, I'm not being very entertaining or informative right now (ran out of zing! on the query letter) But I'll update you in a few days on the next steps and we'll see if we can't make miracles happen.
Here's hoping this blog isn't as long as the last one!!!
- Mood:
hopeful
So here's a fond farewell to the wonderful people I met and looked out for me, the amazing teachers I worked with, all the rowdy Chelsea fans who became my people, and last , but never least, so much love to my friends and family back here in America who never wanted me to leave but supported me through it all and made me feel so welcome again when I returned. I learned a lot about myself this year. Thank you.
Love,
Susan
- Mood:
thoughtful
Gnorm visited my parents and got to check out some of his tack from the Isle of Wight:
He's been eating a LOT of McDonalds. No wonder he's getting to be a chunky little guy!
He has made some friends there, though:
He wanted to go to Annie Oakley Days in Greenville, Ohio as he does so love a flea market:
He really wanted one of these stars that like EVERYone in Ohio has hung on their house, but I vetoed this idea.
Then he wanted to ride this bull. I also vetoed this idea.
Finally he asked for a Lemon Shake-Up, and I agreed to this. At least he didn't want a beer.
Back at home, I explained to Gnorm how he was going to need to get a job in America to help pay his way. He said this was no problem as he'd already spoken to my friends and was going to work as a gnanny. For his first day on the job, he treated the kids to a day at the zoo.
His charges include Piper,
Harper,
and Gavin and Cole.
Things did not start well as while he was buying the tickets. He lost all of them!
He checked to see if they were in the shark pool. Thankfully they were not!
He checked with this beaver who thought he'd seen them with the baboons.
For a quarter, he used the view finder to check the giraffe pen.
FINALLY he found them handing with the zebras:
He scolded them for running off.
Piper gave him a kiss and all was forgiven.
He decided that maybe 4 kids was a bit much for a little gnanny, and decided to just go along for the ride:
He had a light lunch:
And headed home. He thinks he may have to look into a different job.
I'm back in the US on Monday night. You probably won't hear from me again before then (well, obviously, except for the people I will call and email between now and then ;) I will check back in at least one more time, once I've had some time to reflect on the experience and think about what I've learned. It certainly has been a life changing year- mostly for the good.
As it was my last one, Gnrom and I really packed in the fun. We are literally dead on our feet as we write this, but we knew our fans would be sad not to get the update.
As a final show of love from the British Rail system, the decided to not have any trains returning to Pershore on Sunday, and the gnome and I were forced to drive over to Evesham to catch the train from there. I love the trains and would give anything to have something similar in the US, but, sigh... As another parting gift, the underground trains in London also had some choice closures, making getting to Stamford Bridge next to impossible. However, they underestimate the tenacity of this gnome and his girl.
First we tubed over to see St. Paul's Cathedral one last time. Gnrom talked me out of climbing it again, and I must thank him. My feet hurt enough as it is, thanks!
Then we walked the length of the Embankment from St Paul's to Big Ben. (about 2 miles)
It was a grey day that threatened to downpour on us at any moment, but London likes me and held off.
I asked Gnrom if he wanted to ride the eye. I forgot the little guy's issues with heights...
I was quick, though, and he puked into the Thames rather than on my shoes.
We checked out Big Ben and then headed on our way over to Stamford Bridge. (another 3 1/2 miles- no wonder my feet hurt!)
Along the way we stopped to see Victoria Station and shop on Sloane Square.
We found this little street in Chelsea and decided to buy a house there. We stopped at the estate agent and sadly, it was just a touch out of our price range.
We will have to be content to stay at the Millennium Hotel at Stamford Bridge on our stays in London.
We stopped in the mega store and I was well behaved. Just one little John Terry shirt on clearance.
Gnorm talked me into another stadium tour and away we went. You've all seen it before, but Gnorm wanted you all to see him in Frank Lampard's locker:
Ah, Gnorman and I are gonna MISS that place. It was only fitting we go and see it on our last trip as my first trip to London was for the sole purpose of seeing Stamford Bridge... ;)
We left and met up with a friend of mine. She's another American teacher on the exchange and I don't know that I would have survived the year without her shoulder to cry on! We hit the pub for a drink, had dinner in China Town, and walked down to Trafalgar Square. (another mile and a half!)
Gnorm had seen Gnate's photo there and wanted his own.
The next day we went to Regent's Park to see the flowers and the zoo.
The roses were a bit past their peak, but still lovely to look at.
Gnorm took a moment to stop and smell.
We had our photo on the lovely bridge.
At the zoo, we liked the Meerkats and the Zebra-assed Who-its.
Alas, it was nearly time to go home. We caught the tube at Baker Street and then did a bit of shopping on Oxford Street.
I had a final Mr. Whippy.
We caught a bus to Paddington Station and went our separate ways. Gnrom and I got the train home.
I can't even believe as I write this as I will be home in 8 days. Where can the year have gone?
http://cfcfacebookblog.sports.officelive.c
I planned a little barbeque at school to share the fourth of July with the very people we declared independence from (we said we were sorry about the tea...sheesh!) Fun was had:
Some recent converts to the joys of the Old Navy 4th of July shirt!
Even though he's a British gnome, Gnorm was happy to participate! (okay, so he shows up ANYwhere there's beer...)
Some cheerful colleagues!
We had fun in the cold (65 degrees is a real change up from the usual 90 we get in the midwest!) and we managed to eat before it rained on our parade!
On the 5th, I got up to head over to Cardiff, Wales for a fun day trip. Most of the people around here were like "Why are you going to Cardiff?" and I was like, "Uh, 'cause I've not been?" No one had a kind word for the poor Welsh capital, but I will defend it! It was lovely (even though it rained on us all day!)
Of course, Gnrom was there! Our first stop was a tour of the Millennium Stadium, home of the fab Welsh rugby team and site of Chelsea's 2007 Carling Cup victory (yep, they won it LAST year, when I wasn't here!!!) You'll notice they've got the name in English and Welsh. The Welsh are a proud people and are slightly disgruntled that the English peoples are forever telling them what to do. They refuse to fully give up their language and EVERYTHING is in both English and Welsh. 
It was cool. The picture on the left shows the sail-like protrusion on the outside, and the right is the view from the top row. There's no grass on the field at the moment as in the summer they host many big concerts and such. They'll bring the grass back in the fall! The Millennium Stadium was used for all the big games in the last 8 years when they were building the new Wembley. Personally, I think I like it better, but don't tell the English peoples that! I sat in nearly the top row at Wembley for this year's Carling Cup final and I felt like I was watching the game from across the street. Here, you feel like you actually could have seen the game!
Next it was on to the locker room. The Welsh rugby team won the Six Nations Cup last fall and whoo-boy are they proud!
Gnorm was impressed with the size of the rugby players!
Gnrom wanted to lift the cup, but it was a bit big. He settled for sitting in it:
Next stop was Cardiff Castle:
The castle was orginally a Roman fortress, but they abandoned it. Not much was there until William the Conquerer started throwing up these Motte and Bailey castles all over. It was orignally wooden, but the put up the stone keep in the 1200s.
Now, here is what I learned in Year 7 history which I had to teach this year. This is a motte and bailey castle. On the left is the motte, not to be confused with a moat, is the hill bit that the castle keep stands on. The bailey is the stuff around the motte which will then have a wall to keep out bad guys. A moat is on the right. However, not all motte and bailey castles had a moat and not all moats have water in them. For the record, the year 7's had to explain this to me. For a week I was convinced that a motte was a moat...
View from the keep. On the right you can see the stadium peeking up behind the castle/house that's along the outer wall of the castle.
Gnorm wanted to move in to the keep. They even had a gnome cubby for him!
The house had some funky drain pipes! I didn't get any better pictures of the house, as you weren't allowed to take pictures inside. It was t-a-c-k-y Victorian. Phew. No one could over-decorate like the Victorians!
We wandered over to see the city hall, but didn't linger as the rain was really starting to come down at this point. We abandoned it and headed to the pub.
Gnorm was buying , so it was drinks all around!
We hopped the train to come on home. It was a bit of a sad parting as it was the last time I'll see my friend here in England. She's off back to California in a few weeks, and I'll be back in Indiana in just over two weeks! Hopefully we'll stay in touch!
Right, 2 more weeks of school. Next weekend, LONDON!!! Be prepared for more than a few gnome tears as we bid a final farewell to Stamford Bridge...
I spent the day Saturday having one last shop at the Bullring int Birmingham. It's my favorite mall, ever. I will miss it a lot... sniff sniff...
Gnorm went too. Selfridges had a sale on shoes he needed to check out.
Anyway, that's all I had today. Going to Cardiff next weekend.
