3/31/16- Happy Easter Birthday!

This week was busy, crazy, and fun!  Easter happened, which in our house means lots of chocolate, yum!  Hubby had to go to NM for Ty's funeral. :-( And hubby finally got the pins out of his broken hand (from his bike accident in January).

My birthday also happened!  This is my last year in the 25-34 year survey demographic range.  I better eat lots of cake while I'm still in that range.

I took my birthday off, got a massage and pedicure, watched some TV and read a non-picture book, and then had a nice dinner with family and friends.  Taking the day off though meant there was lots to catch up on at work this week.

I did submit one article to a kids' magazine this week, and hopefully it will make our friends' daughters kid magazine famous (the girls were pictured doing the science experiment I wrote about).

So this week's blog is short.  I'll try to make it up next week by writing some long, lengthy (possibly boring if too long) blog.

In the meantime, enjoy the geeky Easter card I got:

The inside reads, "Warning: Egg hunts may bring out the dark side in some people." Haha!

3/23/16- Ty

Bobby, Jack, and I received some sad news this week. Bobby's step-brother passed away.  His name was Ty, and he had so many people who loved him.   I'm of course sorry to the whole family, but I feel most for Ty's mother.  Our sons (our children) are supposed to live long and happy lives.  They're supposed to live to be at least 70 years old with infinite happiness; that was the promise I made Jack make to me.  70, Jack, do you hear me young man?

I wish more than anything for his mother that she had the 70 promise.  I hope she has some comfort in all the memories she made with Ty and all the love he had from her and the rest of us.  Everyone go hug someone right now because the 70 promise isn't always keep (although it should be if I had any magical power).  Ty, I hope you are doing the hot dog dance up there, and we miss you!  Xoxo.

Here's the lovely pray and picture his sister shared on Facebook:

A Message From Heaven

I am not so far from you
Just a little way beyond
Past the cares and past the pain
Far past my earthly bonds.
When you feel you miss me most
As years go drifting by
Each memory will prove to you
That our love will never die,
For memories are but a touch
From the Father's gentle hand
To heal your pain and mend your hearts
To help you understand
That while I left you far too soon
I did not leave alone
For the Father sent His angels
To gently take me home.
Take comfort when you think of me
Keep my love alive in your heart
And with the warmth of each memory
We will never be apart.

-Allison Coxsey

Our hearts are broken.......

3/15/16- First Rejection

I have another writer's badge-- my first rejection!  The city writing contest I entered (in February) has officially contacted me, informing me that they did not choose my essay.  I'm a little bummed of course but also relieved.  My understanding about being a writer is that you struggle and get rejected. A LOT.  So this rejection is all part of my path to becoming a professional writer.  Wee?

On the flip side, since the city politely declined (it was a very courteous rejection letter) my essay, I can submit my essay to another contest or even a magazine.  I've already gone ahead and submitted the essay to a magazine that publishes fiction and nonfiction for teens.  In fact, I've got 3 different manuscripts (stories/essays) out to different magazines.  And I plan to submit a couple more.  I just need one to get published. Just one. :-)

About 2 week ago, I wrote and submitted my first query letter to a literary/book agent. Since I haven't heard from the agent, I plan to send out a couple of queries to more agents this weekend.  I am also going to my first SCBWI meeting this weekend. It will be a great opportunity to meet other children's authors and illustrators in the Valley.

I'm excited and a little nervous. I know how judgy engineers can be if you're not an engineer but work in the tech industry (ask accountants at Google or such if they feel just as valued as the CS and engineers). Are writers the same? Fingers crossed they'll be a little more open.  I just want to be welcomed into the community (residual childhood feelings of being a dork/being left out).  

This drawing is one of the better ones

Final note is that I've actually attempted to illustrate a board/picture book.  Everything I've read about children's writing is that agents and publishers are more eager to have a packaged deal for picture books than to have a separate writer and illustrator.  But the thing is I'm not an illustrator; I know this much about my talents.  Sitting down and drawing out a picture book yesterday only reinforced my self awareness.  I mean, some of the drawings were okay, but others... yeah...And then I have to figure out how to turn the drawings into digital images/manuscript.  I think I have an old copy of Photoshop around somewhere. However, I have doubts that turning these drawings into a digital manuscript are going to somehow magically improve them. Poof! (I wish it was that easy.)

Thanks for reading about my adventures of transitioning from engineer to writer and stay tune for more.  Because if I know one thing about writing is that there will be more rejection, which will supply plenty of material for future blog posts.  Take care friends!

3/9/16- A Cold and Work Stress, Worst Cocktail Ever

This week at work has been really stressful.  Monthly system availability reports are due around the beginning of each month, but usually there's only about 50 system "tickets" to analyze and review. However, this month I had over 180!  Triple! And only one week to analyze and review all 180.  I have been logging in remotely to get this work done after Jack has gone to bed.

Of course I'm stressed out.  Which of course means I got sick.  I think it's just a standard sinus cold, no weird childhood disease (like that time I had hand and food).  But I need more rest.  So much for the part time work=more rest=getting healthy.

Anyway, I've had some bright spots this week, like getting fries and milk shakes with the family. Dropping Jack off at daycare.  The Pug being my ever faithful co-worker as I work late.  Yep, the bright spots are babies and dogs.  Let's just close out this post with pictures of both.

3/1/16- The Blog Name

So I thought I'd use this week's post to talk about why I named my blog "Momee Zee."  I know, it's not cool if you have to explain it.  But I'm ok with not being cool, and thus I'm ok if you think the this explanation, and the blog name itself, is not cool.

The "Momee" part of the name is probably obvious: it's just another way to spell mommy, and I'm a mommy.  Easy enough.

The next part "Zee" is because I once described to a friend that my name was Suzie with a 'z,'  (as opposed to spelling it Susie), and the nickname has stuck in some circles.  In other circles, I'm simply Suz or Suzie.

Now here comes the part that I think is unique: I spelled mommy and 'Z' with double e's at the end because I'm an EE (an Electrical Engineer).  Get it?  Yeah, I know it's not cool to spell out your "clever" naming convention.  And technically I'm now a Systems Engineer.  I did get my BS in EE.  That's right I can BS with the best of them about EE.  *Groan*

Maybe a cute baby picture of my son (from about a year ago) will soothe you?

Just reach out and pinch those adorable cheeks! 

Babies FTW!  Happy March everyone!