… you have nightmares about leaving water running.

… you accidentally bring a 5-gallon bucket to the house after milking instead of the little wash bucket.

… right in the middle of singing ”Away In A Manger” for the millionth time you forget the words.

… someone asks if you remembered to milk, you automatically panic.

… you forget you are in a conversation with someone mid-sentence. (Your own sentence.)

… you can stare straight into someone’s eyes and appear to listen intently without hearing a word.

… you forget why you have something in your hand.

… you forget what year it is (and your only nineteen).    

I regularly do all of the above. For more stories visit Country Cowgirl.

My family was working bull calves that day- snotting, blowing, insulted bull calves. At 600 pounds, they were just big enough to cause some damage, and a lot bigger then I am. We were vaccinating, worming, and sorting them. We also banded some of the smaller ones, and I can understand why they were upset.

We’re not setup to handle a lot of cattle, even little ones. We get by, and make do. When we were finished with a bull and let him out of the chute steaming mad, some of us girls had to substitute for fences. I do not look anything like a fence, but I was only blocking a small space. I stood with one hand holding a steel panel. On the other side was a post, then the opening the bulls were suppose to go through. My sister, Lori, was substituting for a gate between the bulls we were finished with, and the ones we weren’t. At least I did not have upset calves on both sides.

Before we finished, Lori had to jump on the fence to escape charging bulls at least 8 times. She was getting very good at it. Every time a bull came by, she flinched and measured the distance to the fence.

I did not have a fence to jump on. When a bull charged me, I stood my ground as long as possible and tried to look tough. Sometimes it worked, and he would change his mind at the last minute. Sometimes it didn’t. I tried blocking one with my prodding stick, jamming the stick against a post. That didn’t work. The bull just kept coming and ripped the stick out of my hands. For some reason, I grabbed him around the neck instead. I guess it was instinct. I barely slowed the bull down, though my left arm was sore for days.

When another bull refused to back down, I managed to look scary enough that he didn’t want to hit me straight on. Instead, he ran full on into the panel I was holding. I held on to it until the last instant, and he hit my arm too. The right arm this time. Shoot!

I thought I would get away with only my arms sore. Then just as we were finishing, I got trapped in a corner, and one of the bulls kicked me square in the rear. Stung like fire.

We all had a blast with those bulls. They are so funny when they are angry (especially to those on the safe side of the fence). One of them would charge Lori, and I would laugh like crazy until he took a shot at me. Then Lori would laugh, and ask what I was scared of. It was great fun.

After we finished and it was getting dark, I headed for the house. The thought suddenly hit me that some day I might get married, and have to leave all this. I don’t make a habit of praying for my future mate like some people do. It just feels weird to me. But that night as I watched the sunset, I prayed very earnestly, “God, please let me marry a cowboy.”

For more stories like this, visit Country Cowgirl.

Daniel is one of my older brothers, and my family loves to laugh at his complete randomness. For example is one of the last times I walked to the barn with him. We were talking and laughing, when suddenly he lost concentration, and took off after our dog, Ruff. Ruff stayed ahead of Danny until they reached the haystack. Then Daniel took a flying leap, and they both vanished behind the hay. Daniel soon emerged dragging Ruff behind him by a leg. I have no idea why. Danny didn’t know why either. I asked him, and he said that his dog wouldn’t care if he pulled her around by a leg. I later saw him apologizing to Ruff, and Ruff didn’t look very convinced.

Then there was the time when we were moving 300 calves home from the pasture. My sister’s and I were moving the calves on horseback, when Daniel came to help with his Jeep Cherokee. He was all into driving those calves. When the calves weren’t moving well, he flew in behind them with the horn blaring. Slamming the brakes and spinning the wheel, he slide into their midst. Snow flew in billows, and the calves scattered in all directions. Those of us on horses went to gather them up again, as Daniel yelled at us, “C’mon! Can’t your horses go any faster?!” Then with a big sigh, “Why do I have to do everything around here?”

 Another time, the guys were unloading round bales, while I worked in the house. I glanced up to see a bale roll by the window. It had gathered some speed by the time I saw it. It missed the yard fence by inches, and rolled over a rubber tub of water. The result closely resemble a volcanic explosion. Then I saw Danny chasing the escaped hay bale. His arms were waving and every stride covered about 20 feet. Even so, the round bale was faster. I’m glad it was. I’m not sure how he planned to stop it, once he caught it. The bale finally caught in a gulley, and Daniel seemed satisfied. He was panting and laughing, while the other guys grumbled and stewed.

For more stories like this one, visit Country Cowgirl.

I know you came here to read about writing. My advice is to write about what you love. That is what I am going to do.

Sometimes I love to milk the cow. Last night when I was out milking, I leaned against the cow’s flank. The gentle fall of the snowflakes, the warmth of the cow, and the rhythm of milking, all made me drowsy. As I leaned there with eyes half closed, I began to pity anyone who had not experienced the quiet joy of milking a cow. Milking creates such a oneness with nature. A bond with the night, and especially the cow. I glanced up to see the cow watching me, and smiled fondly. We were buddies.

Suddenly, the cow lashed out with her near foot. I grabbed for the milk bucket, and tried to leap back at the same time. Milk flew and I fell over the stool, landing on my rear. I sat there in astonishment, while the cats scrambled to lick up the milk. The cow met my accusing gaze with limpid eyes, then stuck her tongue up a nostril. “Who, me?” she seemed to say. “I would never do a thing like that.”

“You’re an idiot,” I told her, as I replaced myself on the stool. “Don’t you dare try that again.”

I began milking again rather tensely, expecting the cow to kick at any moment. She stood perfectly, chewing her cud, and I gradually relaxed. Soon my cheek was against her flank as I watched snowflakes drift down. The cats finished the spilt milk and resumed their places. Their purring mingled with the sound of milk hitting the bucket.

By the time I finished, I had forgiven the cow. I patted her shoulder as I let her out of the head gate. I would kick too if I was in her place, I thought as I waited for her to stroll back into her pen. But she didn’t turn slowly in the gate, as usual. Instead she took off at a trot toward the haystack, empty bag swinging merrily. I leaped after her with a shout, tripped on a cat, and hurdled a hay bale. As soon as I caught up, the milk cow spun around and headed back to her pen. I would have swatted her, but she knew better then to give me a chance. She trotted directly inside.

When I closed the gate, I stuck my tongue out at the cow. She just yanked out a mouthful of hay, and gazed peacefully at me as she chewed. She showed no outward sign of wickedness. I checked. She was just a cow, glad she was milked, and enjoying her hay. I smiled as I turned away.

For more stories like this one, visit Country Cowgirl.

Note: I’m new here. I want to know what you want. What did you think? What would you like to see?

Hello Everyone,

I am a brand newbie to blogging so please forgive me if I don’t use the politically correct blog lingo.  I am currently a online PhD student, totally uncharted territory for me.  I figured if I can take on this enormous challenge, blogging should be a breeze.

My objective for blogging is to possibly connect with someone, anyone out there who has “walked in PhD shoes.” This is not an easy task and I think sharing my journey will be therapeutic as well as, a stress reliever. I began my Online PhD program on June 7, 2010, which consist of 2 classes per quarter (3 m0nth periods) and completed it on August 29, 2010. I carried away my first PhD A (Foundations of Doctoral Studies) and B (Ethics and Social Justice), consecutively.  I also carried away with these two grades muscle spasms in my shoulders, neck, upper back and middle back!  Didn’t see that coming.

By the way, did I mention that I work a full time job, at a juvenile detention facility.  Can you visualize where my stress began its evolution? I began my second quarter on September 7, 2010 and it will end on November 29, 2010.  This is my first Doctoral Research Class and it is kicking my butt! I will attend my first Residency on October 13-17, 2010. You are required to attend 4 residencies during your tenure in the PhD program.  The residencies assist you with the  Dissertation  process.  I thought…Dissertation, sounds like a dessert to me…scary huh?  I though all I had to do was course work, writing papers, completing homework assignments, etc.  I have to write a book! A mini Scientific Book!

Having said all that…I know there is a writer out there willing to help me on my journey.  Hopefully, I can dedicate my first publication to you?

Signed, Future Dr. (PhD)

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: JMS BOOKS LLC

JMS Books LLC is a new small press catering to fans of queer erotic
romance as well as a variety of other genres. We publish in print and
electronic formats, and our royalty rates are very competitive — among
the best in e-publishing.

We are looking for fresh, new voices in the following fiction genres:

* CONTEMPORARY – stories set in modern day without any fantastical or
paranormal elements
* FANTASY – all subgenres, including urban fantasy, high fantasy, epics,
magic, superhero, mythology, fairy tales, legends, etc.
* GAY – stories in any subgenre whose focus is a loving relationship
between consenting, adult men
* HISTORICAL – stories set in any era before Stonewall
* HORROR – stories intended to scare, unsettle, or horrify (no vampires,
werewolves, or shifters)
* HUMOR – stories in any subgenre with humorous elements which are the
driving focus of the plot
* INTERRACIAL – stories with characters of different races in a
relationship * LESBIAN – stories in any subgenre whose focus is a loving
relationship between consenting, adult women
* MILITARY/WAR – stories in any subgenre with military characters or set
during wartime
* NON-FICTION – please query
* POETRY – please query
* SCIENCE FICTION – all subgenres, including futuristic, space opera, time
travel, alternate reality/history, utopia or dystopia, etc.
* TRANSGENDER – stories in any subgenre whose focus is a loving
relationship between consenting, adult characters who identify with the
gender other than the one with which they were born, including
intersexual, transsexual, transvestite, and gender-queer characters *
YOUNG ADULT – stories in any subgenre aimed at readers between the ages of
14-18

For full submission guidelines visit our site at http://www.jms-books.com.

–
J.M. Snyder

http://jmsnyder.net

I saw the notice that if the people who volunteered to blog don’t want to anymore……
I have been remiss, I’m sorry Damien. It’s just that I must have had spring fever or something lately. At least it started with a fever and for a little over a week I was puky sick and not even thinking of writing a word. Then, as I began to get better, a million hoer things began to get in the way of my writing. So I guess it’s the best motivator I could have had, when you wrote hey…um if you’re no longer interested in writing a blog, you can be replaced….He didn’t actually say it that way but that is what he meant, and thats okay….I’m blogging Damien … see? {:o)

So what have I learned lately? Well lets see, I have learned that what one site will not take another will. That’s as good as any reason right there to just keep on trying right? If you try enough places and different venues to get your writing noticed, you are sure to have some modecome of success just by sheer persistence. I my self have 1 article with CC and 2 others with AC accepted, and I haven’t even really begun to work on my writing courses yet.

That leads me to another thought, I haven’t written lately either, because I am so busy trying to adjust to my new volunteer position emotionally..I am a Guardian ad Litem. An advocate for battered abused and neglected children. Lately, I have been just a little down because of having to place four children out side their home. Did I write abut it? No.

I am a weird one I think…most writers seem to write at their best when they are down or sad. Not me..I find it difficult to write when I feel blue. So Damiens request that I live up to my blogging responsibilities have helped me climb out of my “I feel blue rut” and I think there will be more writing coming up…..I still have so much too learn..

It has been a while now since my last blog post. I have been busy learning though, and that takes time. I have just posted a new article about Tetanus…yes I said Tetanus. A friend of mine stepped on a nail and her misfortune turned a light bulb on in my head. Haley is right, there are gillions of article ideas in every day occurrences.

I posted this article of 865 words on Constant Content. This site has become a thorn in my side, so to speak. I think that the editor on CC must have a masters in english because ed is tough! That is the primary reason I want to write for this site, because they demand the best.

Fortunately for me, I have discovered an on-line writing course designed to teach me “How to write for the Internet.” I can already see the difference in my writing. I first bought Haley Writers e-book about CC for a measly 10 bucks. Even I can afford ten dollars, and it was well worth it. She even critiqued the article for me.

It occurred to me though, after having a few of my attempts at articles, and their rewrites rejected; that I was missing something.

I finally realized that I have some issues with grammar, and well… all sorts of writing issues really. It was then that Haley’s newsletter from her site , ExpandingCreations.com arrived in my e-mail inbox.

Haley offers the Newbie Writer all sorts of learning material on her web site, and for the Paltry discounted price of twenty five bucks, I received her course ..”How To Write A Winning Article Online”.

I am working my way through her course, and I can tell you that it is well worth the money. In fact, as I told my husband recently, Haley is working way too cheap. I am glad she is though, because I would not be able to afford her expertise if she charged more. Now, lets see if CC agrees that my writing is improving. I will let you know. In the mean time, as Dawn say’s, just write something…….

Okay I have had enough time to moan and groan and just complain in general. Yeah my article for CC was not taken ..this time and for good reason! I don’t know how to write! I didn’t say I couldn’t write. I write things that make my friends and family say “you really ought to be a writer” all the time. No, when I say I don’t know “how” to write I mean I have either forgotten or never known the rules governing sentence structure. So after having had one article accepted by CC after having it rejected and resubmitting it and the other article rejected now twice….well that just tells me I need to do three things. Number 1. I need to sign up for Haleys’ course, #2. I need to keep working on that darn article until it does get accepted and #3. I just need to keep learning and writing and eventually, maybe, I will be old hat at CC one day. I think it’s all just a part of that old thing called “paying your dues”. All In the course of being a Newbie writer.

I woke up this morning and the first thing I saw was CC had accepted an article on the public request topic I had chosen to write for. I was so disappointed! I worked so hard on that darn article. Not only did I write it once but I also wrote it a second time after the article was “rejected”.

I don’t know what else to call it but rejection, yes it is a learning opportunity but right now as I look at the other writers article it doesn’t feel like an opportunity for anything. I am sitting here stinging. I did not realize that the word count and title are only suggestive and I took them literally. So I wrote 1,450 words on a subject that I know pretty well but even so 1,450 words about anything can be hard to write. The article that was accepted was about 900 or so words and the title was not the title the customer had suggested. I learned from this experience but I am not sure that I want to keep on trying to write for CC.

Which brings me to the reason I wrote this blog to begin with. I like to write and my friends have enjoyed my little “notes” on face book, where I just comment on the human condition and sometimes share short stories. I do not write articles as a rule and now I am wondering just why I ever thought I could do it in the first place.

I am very discouraged this morning and maybe I expect too much too soon. If this blog is a bummer, I am sorry. I just thought sharing the good and the bad about what I learn along the way is a true reflection of the life and times of a Newbie Writer.