When I was an infant, my grandmother (pictured over there) would put a blanket on the floor for my naps. Her German Shepherd puppy, Jill (also pictured), would curl up around me and nap too. At the time, my mother was depressed and suicidal. Perhaps she wasn't the best mother those early days, but eventually …
Author: mapelba
I'm a writer, artist, teacher, mother, wife, daughter, friend, coffee addict... What else? A success, a failure, a mess, a fan, a hater of housework, a lover of dogs, a liberal, an obsessive, and a bunch of other things that probably would never occur to me. I reveal myself in more ways in my writings and art than in any list of adjectives. And whoever you are, I hope most of all that you are a reader.
Books, Dogs, and Wild Hopes
I'm so proud and excited of the children's books my publisher has written and I've illustrated. See! They books are here at Plum Tree Books. Plum Tree also published cards with my art! If you know anyone (or school, organization, and such) that might like unique children's books, please help us spread the word. And …
Plum Tree Books Launches Pa Dug & Rosie In The Garden Series
I'm reblogging the post from my publisher. These books are written by Niamh Clune and illustrated by me! And now they are launched. Hurray!
Change and Other Cool Things
Publication! My publisher, Plum Tree Books, is launching two children's books that I illustrated! I've been distracted and more unorganized than usual because of a cancer diagnosis and chemo brain, but I'm trying to get my life and my attitude back on track. I'm excited about my publisher's work and I want her books to …
May Storytelling
May is here! And I don't know what you're writing these days, but I'm taking a giant stab at Story-A-Day May. I've managed it before, but I'm not sure this time how chemo treatments are going to get in the way. To be accurate, how the side-effects are going to get in the way. But …
Carcinoma Wonderland
I don't know how much about my life with breast cancer I want to blog about. But I've started an FB page to share this experience for what it's worth. The FB page feels more conversational and more immediate. But the page isn't for everyone. The blog format isn't really working for me on this. …
Drains!
The drains are gone! If you've ever had surgery that required post-op drains, you know how awesome it is to be drain free. If you don't know what I'm talking about, google Jackson-Pratt drain. I chose not to take a picture of mine. It's kind of hard to make them look pretty. Writing about difficult …
Must. Be. Meaningful.
I've started several blog posts that I haven't finished. Percocet took over and I couldn't think. And everything I write seems ridiculous. Trite. Meaningless. I don't have anything to add to the cancer narrative. I can't add any original observations. I've started reading two breast cancer memoirs. I finished the first chapter of one of …
Percocet Dreams
Maybe the pain meds aren't responsible for the dreams. Maybe the surgery experience brings out the odder corners of the mind. Possibly the meds and surgery experience collude. In one dream, everything was red. Fire engine red. The walls, the sky, the ground, every single thing red. The same red of the light switches in …
Imagination Fail
Eight days until surgery. I've got my post-op shirts and even two small post-op pillows. One pillow is recommended for the drive home from the hospital. It will go between the seatbelt strap and me. I've seen post-op pictures of others to give me an idea what to expect. I'm getting my house in order, …
Marta Bacon 