Snow, Snow Go Away, Don’t Come Again Some Other Day

As a thin layer of ice covers the region, yet another school day is delayed.  I’m starting to think we may never get back to normal.  I should be thankful that we haven’t been hit with back to back blizzards, but these incessant, miniscule storms that continue to wreak havoc on my semblance of routine are just about to drive me crazy. 

Am I alone in this?  Sure, as a kid, I’d live for these days, especially in Georgia where they were rare to say the least.  However, as an adult, as a parent, I’m really starting to resent the onset of winter precipitation.  I find myself cursing the weathermen when they even hint at a winter storm watch, praying as I lay my head down at night that I’ll wake up to find they were dead wrong.

I’m a work-at-home (most of the time) mom with three kids and to-do list the size of Mount Kilimanjaro.   Schedules are important, not just for me but for the kids as well.  When nature calls for a shake up, I find myself scrambling to manage the chaos that ensues. I guess that makes the name of my blog a bit like a premonition.  It really is the Hills of Chaos, huh? 

At the same time, I have to remember that my first priority is to my family, my husband and my kids.  Sure, being a mother comes with certain super powers, but controlling the weather is not one of them. The to-do list will have to wait.

On days like this, I have to redefine my idea of productivity.  If I can make it to the end of the day without having inflicted intense emotional damage on my children, then I say that’s one successfully productive day. 

So enough blogging for now.  I think it’s time to build one magnificent fort in the basement.  I’m sure my boys will lead the charge. 

Hillary and Betsy Go Viral

Okay, maybe we haven’t hit the big time quite yet, but this article in the Catonsville/Arbutus Times is a good start.  Lauren Fullbright, a journalist for Patuxent Publishing came out and interviewed us in early December, wanting to tell the story of how we went from political activists to business owners.  We were super excited to see it published in today’s paper. 

Betsy and I have been continuously involved in every aspect of the grassroots movement in Baltimore County for the past 18 or so months.  Last July, we started Strategic Victory Consulting in which we offer marketing and event solutions for small businesses and political organizations. 

At the core we’re writers.  Through the Whisler Campaign and efforts within the PVRC, we’ve learned to take our skill sets to the next level by using free media and email marketing to not only promote political candidates but also small businesses and nonprofit organizations. 

We love what we do and feel extremely blessed to be able to assist people and businesses that we’ve come to respect.  We just want to see us all succeed. 

Photo courtesy of Phil Grout.

Here It Is

It's completely surreal to see your own name featured on the front page of a website that you didn't create.  Check it out and let me know what you think.  But don't post your comments here.  Post them on the article itself.  It helps my editor know that people are reading and engaging.  However, if you absolutely hate it, then just maybe snicker to yourself and not make it public.  My ego is a little fragile right now. 

Thanks again for all the support.  You guys are amazing.

A Done Deal

That's it.  As of 6 am tomorrow morning, I will be an official published columnist.  The article is written, name chosen, picture uploaded.  Now it falls into the hands of readers.  Whether or not it is well received will likely determine if I get to continue writing.  Do me a favor?  Go and read it, even if it sucks, okay?  I'll post the link when it's live.  Prayers appreciated.  I just dove in and there is no turning back.

This is it...my very own trip down the rabbit hole.

I've been thinking about it all week...what to write for my first column on the Catonsville Patch.  Maybe I need to get one of those voice recorders so I don't get to this point and forget every flipping idea that has entered my head over the last couple of days.  Call it nerves.  Call it writer's block.  Call it whatever you like, just pray that I can somehow find the words.  Look at me, I can sit down and any moment on any of my other blogs and the words just flow freely.  However you add a payment and an actual publication to the mix and it's like I'm mute.  I know, who would have thunk? Me? Mute? 

So what do I write about?  It's my first ever paid writing gig.  I will say, however, that it's certainly nice to know the topic.  For a long time, I wasn't sure what I wanted to write about, hence the 4 million blogs I manage.  The point is that I love to write.  It's therapeutic for me, and if people happen to read it, that's just a bonus.  Now the stakes are higher.  If people don't read, I don't get to keep writing.  Hhmmm, have I just stumbled upon  the cause of my writer's block?  Could I be afraid that I'm not actually that good at doing what I love?  Shocking revelation peeps, I have insecurities. Why do I get the feeling I'm about the walk into a high school cafeteria buck naked?  Risky.

All right, I have to just do it, dive in, and pray I know how to swim.  Prayers appreciated.  This is going to be a bumpy ride with a super secret and equally exciting destination.  I'll let you know when it's up and running.  I trust that, as my true friends, you'll give me honest and constructive feedback (while keeping my very fragile ego in mind).