Friday Feel-Goods

/ Tracy Abell

1)  Yesterday I sent a letter to the editor in support of paper ballots and hand-counts.  Today the Denver Post published my letter but edited out several key sentences (my letter was over the word count).  I called the letters editor to let him know I was unhappy with what he cut and that I would’ve preferred cutting the letter myself.  He offered his direct email address for submitting future letters and said he’d let me see edits before publishing my letters.  Then a couple minutes later I received an email from him letting me know that he’d restored my letter in its entirety for the newspaper’s online version.  Plus he let me know he’d like more letters from me regarding verifiable voting because it was an important issue, one of great concern to the Post.  I’m so glad I took the time to call.

2)  Today is sunny and warm.  For the first time in forever, I’m going out on the trails to run.  It might be muddy in places but I’m willing to risk running in 15-pound shoes just to get off the streets and into the open space.

3)  Revisions are moving slowly on my middle-grade but I’m making progress.  I’ve read the opening pages about a billion times and whenever I read a certain line on page four, I crack up.  I might be the only one who thinks it’s funny but for the time being, I consider it a good sign.

4)  My shoulder and back muscles are sore because last night I did circuit training for the first time in about three weeks.  Sore is good because it reminds me I did all those push-ups.

5)  Wildebeest wasn’t turning in assignments so now has to have a weekly progress report signed by all teachers.  Last night he checked the online portal to make sure he had everything done but discovered a science assignment incorrectly marked “missing.”  He immediately wrote a note to himself and stapled it to the blank progress report so he’d remember to straighten out the no-name mix-up with his teacher.  Believe me, that’s a big WOW coming from him.

Here’s wishing lots of feel-good moments for everyone this weekend.

                 

29 thoughts on “Friday Feel-Goods”

    • It really was great getting that response. Now I’m trying to rally some of the other folks who worked with me on this issue to send in letters filling in the gap left in mine.

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  2. Good for Wildebeest — I love it when kiddos start learning that all-important responsibility 🙂
    DH has been riding on the south side of Green Mountain. He says the trails are almost completely dry now — he can even do the longer loop at the top. Enjoy the beauty (we’re going out tomorrow, either to Green Mountain or Matthew/Winters) 😀

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    • Hooray for Wildebeest! Zippy and I were laughing (in relief) about it last night when everyone was in bed. Baby steps…..
      Good to hear about the trails. Still haven’t made it out today but hope to get out in late afternoon. You guys have a good hike tomorrow.

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      • Wildebeest rocks!! He’s learning important lessons, isn’t he? YAY!
        You rock, too, big time! I love that you wrote the letter in the first place, and I’m impressed that you followed up with a phone call. And isn’t it FABULOUS that he wants to hear more from you about such an important subject. You deserve a huge ((HUG)) and a gold star. Wildebeest does, too, but I’ll leave it to you to give them to him. 🙂

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  3. Good for Wildebeest — I love it when kiddos start learning that all-important responsibility 🙂

    DH has been riding on the south side of Green Mountain. He says the trails are almost completely dry now — he can even do the longer loop at the top. Enjoy the beauty (we’re going out tomorrow, either to Green Mountain or Matthew/Winters) 😀

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    • Thanks, Barb. I was very happy he wanted more, too. In 2004, we couldn’t get any traction on this issue and it was so frustrating.
      By the way, I also believe in Pluto. (That made me laugh out loud).

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  5. Hooray for Wildebeest! Zippy and I were laughing (in relief) about it last night when everyone was in bed. Baby steps…..

    Good to hear about the trails. Still haven’t made it out today but hope to get out in late afternoon. You guys have a good hike tomorrow.

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  6. Thanks, Barb. I was very happy he wanted more, too. In 2004, we couldn’t get any traction on this issue and it was so frustrating.

    By the way, I also believe in Pluto. (That made me laugh out loud).

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  7. 1. That rocks! I too support paper baoolts and hand counts. The computer machines scare me in a big way. Have you seen “that documentry on HBO that shows those people proving how easily the machines can be tampered with”? I’m sorry that I can’t give it a better name than that. I’ll try to find it on IMDB later.
    2. It’s been odd here lately because the atmosphere seems to feel like it’s summer, but I look outside or wander into the basement to confirm it and it’s still freezing. I must hear noises I associate with summer or something…
    3. This could also be the first sign of insanity. Just kidding! 😉
    4. My upper back has been very sore for a while now and I recently stopped bringing all of my books to my classes in a last ditch attempt to save my back. I need to see if I can go to my school’s wellness center because it’s been bothering me so much.
    5. I’m a very bad student. We have a parent “Home Access Center” in Delaware that tracks me throughout the entire day by my many assigned numerical codes and show my parents everything from I eat at lunch to every class I attend – or don’t attend. (The latter will be a post in my LJ sometime soon.)

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    • 1) I haven’t seen that documentary but I’ve seen plenty of other stuff. Scary stuff.
      2) I like that you’re hearing summer noises and agitating for a change in season.
      3) Not my first sign of insanity, trust me.
      4) I’ve read about kids getting into back/posture trouble because of all the books. Definitely a good idea to lighten the load.
      5) Those portals are frightening and I’m sorry yours is tracking your dietary intake. 🙂

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  8. 1. That rocks! I too support paper baoolts and hand counts. The computer machines scare me in a big way. Have you seen “that documentry on HBO that shows those people proving how easily the machines can be tampered with”? I’m sorry that I can’t give it a better name than that. I’ll try to find it on IMDB later.

    2. It’s been odd here lately because the atmosphere seems to feel like it’s summer, but I look outside or wander into the basement to confirm it and it’s still freezing. I must hear noises I associate with summer or something…

    3. This could also be the first sign of insanity. Just kidding! 😉

    4. My upper back has been very sore for a while now and I recently stopped bringing all of my books to my classes in a last ditch attempt to save my back. I need to see if I can go to my school’s wellness center because it’s been bothering me so much.

    5. I’m a very bad student. We have a parent “Home Access Center” in Delaware that tracks me throughout the entire day by my many assigned numerical codes and show my parents everything from I eat at lunch to every class I attend – or don’t attend. (The latter will be a post in my LJ sometime soon.)

    Like

      • We still haven’t had temperatures above 38 degrees and still have snow.
        Spring doesn’t arrive until late May.
        I hope your snow melts soon.
        Have a great writing week!

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        • Ugh on the late spring. But you have your MFA news to keep you going, right? I’m so excited for you!
          The sun is out today and the snow is starting to melt. I do love that sunshine.
          You have a good writing week, too!

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  11. Wildebeest rocks!! He’s learning important lessons, isn’t he? YAY!

    You rock, too, big time! I love that you wrote the letter in the first place, and I’m impressed that you followed up with a phone call. And isn’t it FABULOUS that he wants to hear more from you about such an important subject. You deserve a huge ((HUG)) and a gold star. Wildebeest does, too, but I’ll leave it to you to give them to him. 🙂

    Like

  13. Great letter – and what a nice response from the editor!
    And I love it when a line I’ve read a million time in my book still makes me laugh.
    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  14. Great letter – and what a nice response from the editor!

    And I love it when a line I’ve read a million time in my book still makes me laugh.

    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  15. We still haven’t had temperatures above 38 degrees and still have snow.

    Spring doesn’t arrive until late May.
    I hope your snow melts soon.

    Have a great writing week!

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  16. Ugh on the late spring. But you have your MFA news to keep you going, right? I’m so excited for you!

    The sun is out today and the snow is starting to melt. I do love that sunshine.

    You have a good writing week, too!

    Like

  17. That’s cool….the editor took the time to discuss edits with you. I used to do a lot of freelancing and sometimes the newspaper editors were…um…less than helpful (one paper changed the entire final paragraph of my review. When I called them and complained, they said something like: you’re too young to understand this business.
    I never wrote for them again.

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  18. That’s cool….the editor took the time to discuss edits with you. I used to do a lot of freelancing and sometimes the newspaper editors were…um…less than helpful (one paper changed the entire final paragraph of my review. When I called them and complained, they said something like: you’re too young to understand this business.

    I never wrote for them again.

    Like

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