These were my biggest problems this morning:

• The cleaning lady arrived like, 5 MINUTES after I woke up, around 10:30. I had just finished brushing my teeth.
• My second cup of coffee tasted like crapola and it was the last of the 4-cup pot that Brian prepares for me before he leaves for work each day so all I have to do is press the button. As a result, I didn’t get to have my usual second cup of coffee.
• I didn’t have much time between when I woke up and when I had to leave for therapy, so I was unable to check Twitter on the computer and had to do it on my phone.
• Because the cleaning lady arrived earlier than usual, I was still home while she began mopping, which meant I had to move from room to room while Twittering, to avoid the mop.

To someone who doesn’t know me well, I could see how I might come off as a completely spoiled brat — someone who can afford to even have a cleaning lady, let alone one who makes my life a living hell because she’s in my way. In fact, I’m so spoiled and pampered that I don’t even have to make my own coffee every morning because my husband takes care of it. All I have to do is press the button. And…oh. Mah. Gawd. I didn’t get to check Twitter. End of the world.

Yes, I’m spoiled to a certain extent — Brian and I aren’t, by any means, wealthy, but for the most part I can have what I want. I don’t work. I don’t have kids to take care of. I hate cleaning, so I don’t. I can pretty much do whatever I want, like go shopping or to the salon or have lunch with friends. On the outside, my life looks pretty good. Hell — maybe even great.

My little tantrum this morning, expressed via Twitter, made me realize that my life only sucks in my head. One perspective, as I said, is that I’m a spoiled little bitch. But the other and also very real perspective is this:
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Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are good, is like expecting the bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian. — Dennis Wholey (via Quote Book)

Last spring I participated in Poetic Asides‘s April Poem-A-Day Challenge 2009. They have yet to announce the people who managed to complete the challenge, let alone which poems will be published in the e-book compiling the best poem for each of April’s 30 days, both of which were supposed to be made known in early June, then July, then August, etc. They have, however, recently announced the Challenge’s Poet Laureate. The person who received that honor also volunteered to read the slush pile (submissions).

If I knew that would increase my chances, I would’ve volunteered, too (not really). I certainly have the experience, having read for The Ohio State University Press/The Journal Award in Poetry during my tenure in the MFA program. Maybe I’m being sour grapes, but seriously, does that seem fair? Then again, life isn’t fair, so whatever. Besides, I personally know editors at a few literary journals, which also isn’t fair but comes with the territory (of having been in an MFA program, being a member of AWP, etc.).

Next month their November 2009 Chapbook Challenge commences. A chapbook is a small book of 10 – 20 poems. However, it isn’t like a book of poetry, which usually consists of at least 48 pages and has an ISBN number — you know, like the kind you see in a store. I’m not even sure if you can purchase a chapbook or simply ask the poet for one of his/hers. But that’s beside the point. I am going to participate in that I’ll write a poem for each day of November. However, I won’t be posting them to their site nor submitting them for the chapbook contest. I figure it’s a good way to generate more poems because they’ll offer a daily prompt, which I find helpful.

In other news, I recently sent an electronic (e-mail) submission of 5 poems to a literary journal and will mail a submission of 6 different poems to another journal tomorrow. Let my writing career begin! (Again. )

…by trying out my new Breast Cancer Awareness Snuggie before I had a chance to. But you know what’s really scary? They now make Snuggies for dogs!

(via The Daily What)

Don’t understand Google Wave? That’s OK, neither do I. I do, however, understand Pulp Fiction, so this video really helped a lot!