Decisions, decisions

Leaving for yet another weekend has left me scatter brained- this time a Sr. High winter retreat (church).  I went to Target yesterday because I had a gift certificate I planned to use but forgot anyway.  I spent twenty mintues picking out Fish Oil vitamins – my latest attempt at supple skin.  With my final decision made, I threw the Origins vitamins into my cart and made my way to the book section.  For the next hour I stood flipping through books, unable to make a decision.  I wanted something really good to fill my time while sitting at the lodge this weekend, guarding teenagers’ bags and coats.  However, I needed something small because I didn’t want to carry a lot.  With one book under my arm and another in my hands, I raced from the back cover to author info to the front page.  Is it a bestseller?  It seemed that so many of them were.  Is it a an Oprah club book?  If so, it’s an automatic NO!  My husband would make fun of me too much.  Is the language in the book something I could get lost in? Word choice is very important to me.  I pulled out my blackberry and went to memopad.  I typed in all of the books that I wouldn’t choose this time, but must look into reading in the future.  Kite Runner, Plain Truth (Jodi Picoult), Case Histories, Thirteen Moons, Forms of Shelter, One Mississippi.  Too many choices!!

I finally chose something thin, but hopefully interesting – Slow Moon by Elizabeth Cox.  The  main reason I chose it is because it deals with a subject I too had thought about writing.  Not sure if that’s wise, though – to read about a subject you plan to write about.  I mean, I don’t want to be tainted by someone else’s way of doing something. 

I plopped Slow Moon in my cart and took off.  I hadn’t gotten any further than the deodorant aisle, when I re-examined my decision.  I picked it up yet again and flipped through it.  I don’t know – maybe I should read something more adult.  I should have tried a Jodi Picoult book.  I turned my cart around and made my way back to the book aisle, stopping short.  Rethinking.  Just buy the book, S!! I thought.  I proceeded to the check out lane and out into the snow that had just begun to fall. 

While most of my things are now packed for the weekend, I have sat down to write.  I got two leads.  I received an e-mail back from the on-line, non-paying magazine I contacted.  They are still accepting articles and told me to let them know when I have something to submit.  Yippee!  I also would like to try my hand at writing for a Chidren’s magazine.  Highlights is having a contest, but I don’t believe I can make the deadline in time.  I contacted them today to get a sample magazine.