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Post by Gabrielle On Nutbread on Feb 15, 2010 2:12:59 GMT -6
Spending the day with your brother, who takes you out to a movie and dinner to celebrate "Singles Awareness Day" with you.
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Post by Phalon on Feb 15, 2010 11:53:27 GMT -6
Cool beans, Stepper! Every year, LX does a similar thing with bags of Hershey's Kisses at school - not only handing them out to her friends, but pretty much anyone she comes in contact with throughout the day. This year, when she asked me to get a couple of bags of them next time I went to the store, I grabbed a bag of Kisses, and mistakenly a bag of Hershey's heart-shaped chocolates too. There were only about half of the hearts in a bag as there were Kisses, so she ended up running to the convenience store for another bag to make sure she had enough.....leaving the bag of hearts at home Friday when she was going to pass them out.
Soooo....my little pleasure these last couple of days has been chocolate!
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Post by Siren on Feb 27, 2010 11:01:18 GMT -6
Very nice, Step. It often takes a small gesture to brighten a person's whole day. Well done! And that as very sweet of LX, too, Gams.
Back to the list...
the first bite of a really good hamburger
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Post by Phalon on Mar 2, 2010 4:45:17 GMT -6
I found this quote, and thought it fit perfectly in this thread.
"One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats." ~ Iris Murdoch
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Post by Siren on Mar 9, 2010 8:04:52 GMT -6
Very good, Gams. And the great part is, everyone has their own idea of what a treat is.
I think this one is universal, though:
sleeping in on the first day of the weekend, knowing two days off work lie ahead
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Post by Phalon on Mar 10, 2010 5:36:29 GMT -6
Getting through a day of spring cleaning, and standing back to see everything sparkle in the sunlight coming through the windows.....and actually being able to see the sunlight coming through the windows, because they're finally clean!
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Post by Phalon on Mar 15, 2010 11:30:00 GMT -6
Waiting, waiting, waiting for something to arrive in the mail...and finally it comes!
And the emphasis here has got to be on little pleasures.
I finally heard back from a magazine editor who I sent three stories to in December. Pfft. A so-so response, but encouraging in a small way. About story number one he wrote: "Sweet, very well told. Sigh...almost. Stories like this are better with dialogue." (dialogue with the "ue"; I like that.) Story number two: "Very nice. But more of an article/essay than a story. We want stories." Story number three: "My favorite of the three. I like this! It has some good humor! I'm not sure it'll get in though - again, it's somewhat of an essay rather than a story. It's a fence straddler, but if it's all right with you, I'll hold onto it for now, and think about it."
Sooo...I could look at this two ways. It's basically a rejection letter; not great. But there's some constructive criticism in there, some positive feedback, and now I have a better idea of what they'll accept. And the ones he rejected flat out - maybe I'll rework them; maybe I'll send them on to another magazine. Afterall, my bra story was rejected by three different magazines, before the fourth one published it.
And....I got an e-mail from the editor of the magazine I blog for; they're commissioning me to write an article. Whoo-hoo!
Sorry for the ramble; a bit of excitement for me, and a bit of disappointment.
Ah, well...back to the writing board.
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Post by Mini Mia on Mar 15, 2010 16:38:37 GMT -6
Phalon: Sometimes I think the photo-copied form rejections are better than the encouraging ones. The encouraging ones let you know you're good, just not what they wanted, or not as good as they publish. I think the encouragement stings far worse than the dry, flat rejections. I haven't sent anything out in a very long time. I think I'm too thin-skinned for the business side of writing.
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Post by Siren on Mar 15, 2010 21:16:28 GMT -6
When I was job-hunting, getting a reply at all, even a rejection letter, was a treat. Most folks don't have (or, perhaps, take) the time.
I love it that you're giving it the "try, try again" attitude, Gams. There are countless examples of successful people who were told, or told themselves, to give up. One of my favorite stories is of a young singer being told by the manager at the Grand Ol' Opry that he should go back to driving a truck. But he didn't let that discourage him. The singer? Elvis
Is it just my imagination, but are there fewer paid opportunities for writers these days? Our OKC paper will let you submit stories, and have the privilege of having them published...no fee.
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Post by Mini Mia on Mar 15, 2010 21:37:25 GMT -6
Siren: NonFiction pays more often and usually better than Fiction. Most published short fiction doesn't get payment, and usually those that do don't pay much. There are exceptions.
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Post by stepper on Mar 15, 2010 22:33:04 GMT -6
AndWay cool Phalon! Only one question. Can I get my copies autographed?
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Post by Phalon on Mar 16, 2010 5:13:07 GMT -6
I agree, Siren. I'd much rather get a response, even a rejection letter, than nothing at all - especially when some magazines can take six months or more to decide whether they're going to run an article, and most won't consider "simultaneous submissions". And I have to disagree with Joxie - I'd rather get a personalized letter, good or bad, than a form letter. A personalized one at least lets you know they actually took the time to read it, and comment on what you've written.
I believe Joxie and I are on opposite genres. I think she writes fiction (yes, Joxie?). I write strictly non-fiction, and know there are many publications that don't pay for non-fiction articles. There are so many writers out there dying to get published, they don't have to. Call it snobbery, but I only submit to publications that pay for my work - some not much, some quite handsomely (by my standards anyway).
BOLL! Yes, Stepper, of course. And hang on to them....because some day they'll be worth absolutely nothing!
This morning's little pleasure....
Seeing not just one, but two, of my favorite Whooshites have been back on board in the same evening!!!
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Post by stepper on Mar 16, 2010 15:22:34 GMT -6
But to me they'll be worth lots! I can see it now..."I knew her before she became the author of the first book to out sell Harry Potter! Why, I'm one of the first people she intentionally forgot about when she got rich and famous!"
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Post by Mini Mia on Mar 16, 2010 16:28:32 GMT -6
Yeppers. I do fiction. And to be honest, I haven't really looked through the marketing books in quite some time, so what was may not be anymore. I know there are far less magazines buying fiction now. Well, paper magazines. The internet has probably opened up more places to publish, though mostly for free.
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Post by Siren on Mar 16, 2010 20:26:49 GMT -6
I don't think you're being snobbish, Gams, by expecting to be paid for your work. I feel that if the magazine is making money by selling copies that feature your work (or if a show features you as a live entertainer), that you should be compensated, even if it is a small token payment.
Another of life's little pleasures:
finding your gloves in the pocket of your jacket
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Post by Siren on Mar 18, 2010 16:12:55 GMT -6
a bowlful of miniature chocolate bars on the receptionist's desk
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Post by stepper on Mar 28, 2010 0:07:33 GMT -6
Finding that first yellow dandelion - especially when it's in someone elses yard.
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Post by vox on Mar 28, 2010 3:01:25 GMT -6
The first time you go out into the garden after a harsh winter!
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Post by Phalon on Apr 1, 2010 21:44:30 GMT -6
I agree, Vox! Unfortunately, one of life's little pleasures this year, is also a bit of a disappointment. Lots of exciting things happening out in the yard - little things poking their noses out of the ground and starting to bloom. Our harsh winter though, wasn't kind to many others! Parts of my gardens look pretty battered.
Another little pleasure is that worn out, but good feeling after spending time getting things back in order in the garden.
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Post by stepper on Apr 17, 2010 20:54:22 GMT -6
Listening to the rain on the roof when there's a noisy thunderstorm outside.
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Post by Siren on Apr 18, 2010 23:24:54 GMT -6
the first rosebuds of spring
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Post by Phalon on Apr 21, 2010 4:37:45 GMT -6
Hearing your alarm, getting up for work, and then realizing it's your day off.
(maybe this should go in the 'dork' thread)
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Post by moonglum on Apr 21, 2010 11:01:18 GMT -6
Your own comfy chair, after a hard day. It has to be your own one. Nobody else's comfy chair feels the same.
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Post by vox on Apr 21, 2010 13:22:07 GMT -6
Definitely the Comfy Chair, but it's the first drink, having it made for you after coming home from work, in that chair!
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Post by Phalon on Apr 22, 2010 5:53:32 GMT -6
That's a cozy image. I can just imagine you two, sitting in your comfy chairs by a fireplace, or maybe in front of that window looking out on that field of yellow rapeseed (in bloom yet?), sipping your drinks. Tea? Toddies? Maybe a stout English ale?
I don't have my own comfy chair. Hubs does; a rocker/recliner thing we got him for Father's Day one year. Or maybe it was Valentine's Day? I have my end of the couch though....and if the girls are sitting there when I'm ready to sit down, they'd better vacate....though they usually end up on top of me, the three of us wadded up together, while the other end, and another couch remain empty, and Hubs has his comfy chair all to himself.
I can't sit down on my comfy end of the couch right after work either....if I do, I find it too difficult to get up again. Forget getting anything done in the evening if I'm on my comfy end of the couch, wrapped up in the Magic Blanket. It's the "magic" blanket because it works much in the same way as did the field of poppies in the Wizard of Oz - it immediately puts me to sleep.
Which actually, in a chilly day after work can sometimes be one of life's little pleasures.
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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Apr 22, 2010 15:15:11 GMT -6
The birds chirping in the tree outside the kitchen window first thing in the morning.
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Post by Mini Mia on Apr 23, 2010 1:25:20 GMT -6
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Post by Mini Mia on Apr 23, 2010 1:34:04 GMT -6
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Post by Mini Mia on Apr 23, 2010 1:39:08 GMT -6
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Post by Mini Mia on Apr 23, 2010 1:59:52 GMT -6
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