I just found out one of my poems was accepted for Juked. I’m pretty stoked.

I’m going to start writing real posts again at some point, not just these “I got published” quickies.

Beyond the cherry trees, a wet Bank of America parking lot.

My poem is up at Blood Orange Review, along with work by the following authors:

Sarah Bonifacio :: Michael Estabrook :: Cynthia J. Hollenbeck :: Rebekah Judson :: Sarah J. Sloat :: John Thomas :: Bryan Fry

My poem is up at Boxcar Poetry Review, along with poetry by the following authors:

Jeffrey Alfier :: Tricia Asklar :: J. Mae Barizo :: Margaret Bashaar :: Steven Brow :: Kit Frick :: Christina Kallery :: Matthew Olzmann :: Julie Marie Wade :: Joe Wilkins

I have officially moved into the hypothyroid phase of my thyroiditis illness. This means I am healing, even if I am healing very slowly.

I seem to be moving from the hyperthyroid phase of my illness to the hypothyroid phase, as evidenced by my rapid weight gain, changes in appetite, changes in sleeping patterns and lack of hair loss. This phase can last for nearly a year and a half, but I am hoping it doesn’t go on nearly that long.

To pass the time, I’ve been putting together a puzzle. Usually, I am very good at puzzles, but this one is a bitch. Most of the pieces are black or some variant of black — greenish black, reddish black, bluish black. It’s utterly depressing, which is not what I need right now.

Every time I sit down at the puzzle, I can’t help but giggle. My mother and I used to work puzzles together from time to time. She was usually pretty drunk, and she would try to fit pieces together that so obviously didn’t go together, then she would insist they were a match. I don’t know why I find this thought funny, but I do. We have to find our humor somewhere, and I find mine in thinking about my strange, abusive, alcoholic family.

Every day, it’s more springlike in these parts, and so far I’ve only been able to enjoy the weather by opening all the windows and letting the sun in. I hope to feel well enough to go outside soon. I believe the presence of the sun has helped me tremendously the past couple of weeks, and I’d like to have the chance to actually feel it on my skin.

At least I am able to prop myself up at my computer and do a little bit of writing. I didn’t write at all for two months, and I got sort of scared that I’d never write again. But I am fighting my way back to it, determined not to let it go.

… I am popping in to toot my own horn. I got word yesterday that one of my poems has been accepted for Blood Orange Review. w00t!