He is 15 – Going on…College?

He is 15 – Going on…College?


kidteenIt seems like just yesterday I was nervously trying to nibble on my lunch while figuring out a way to tell my Dad I was expecting. I remember that lunch so clearly. It had to have been yesterday.

But no, it was much longer ago. Because in two weeks time Denver turns 15.

Fifteen.

He’s on the downhill slope of his Freshman year. That means in just 2 years he’ll be seriously looking at colleges. Our conversations turn to college at least once a week already.

And I am so ill prepared. It’s pretty sad.

I knew way back in First Grade when Denver first said he wanted to be in NASA that we had college ahead of us.  Math, science, history – everything but reading that kid loved and excelled at.  Then when reading took hold?

The kid has been unSTOPable.

Seriously.

His dreams of NASA have turned to dreams of being a Doctor.

As much as I annoy him going all New-Yorker and talking about how my son “wants to be a Doc-tah”  – I’m seriously, sickeningly, insanely proud of this lofty goal.

And then I think about college.

How right now our only ‘plan’ to pay for it is an Indiana’s great “21st Century Scholars” program & hopes of him reaching Eagle Scouts which could = scholarships. Which is great – if he keeps his grades up and at least for under-grad.

But medical school means many years, many dollars, and my head starts spinning.

So deep in the recesses of my mind where I keep my panic and fear deeply hidden (oh, stop laughing – I do keep it hidden, most of the time) – that large red panic button has been hit. Sirens are blaring, and I’m hearing the robot from Lost in Space “Danger, Will Robinson!”

Three years is not a lot of time to suddenly come up with a plan, and I have a ton of questions.

Wells Fargo has provided a great place for me to get some of those questions answered. Their community forums have both new parents, panicky parents like me, students – and the bonus – specialists I’ve been dipping my toes in the waters there and am happy to often find a topic very close to what I already have on my mind.

It’s helped ease some of the panic and the blaring siren sounds are subsiding a little.

But that darn Lost in Space robot is still swinging his arms around in circles…

*~*~*

 

Wells Fargo Community

 

What is it?

The Wells Fargo Community is an online forum where you can ask questions and share knowledge about financial topics. It’s a place to get help and help others in a convenient and safe environment.

The current focus of the community is education planning. We expect to add additional topics over time.

Who can use it?

The community is free and you don’t need to be a Wells Fargo customer to participate. In fact, you don’t even need to be a member to browse and learn from discussions. But, if you want to post your own questions or answers, we’ll ask you to sign up.

Why should you join?

The Wells Fargo Community is a great place to have conversations about your financial challenges and goals because:

  • People with different backgrounds and experiences have joined the community so you can get a variety of perspectives.
  • You can learn from specialists.
  • We want to get you a lot of helpful and accurate information so we encourage participation from the community, review all posts, and, in many cases, chime in ourselves.
  • Our community guidelines insist on constructive communications and we make sure our members are respectful.
  • You can help others.

How do you get started?

Just go to WellsFargoCommunity.com. Then you can browse and search discussions to find what interests you. Your question may already be answered!

Join the community to ask your own question or reply to someone else. It only takes a few minutes to sign up and it’s free.

It’s easy to stay up-to-date with what’s important to you. If you post anything in the community, you’ll be notified when other community members reply.

Education Planning & Student Loans

Education planning has become increasingly important both due to its impact on lifetime earnings and its rising costs. Many people find the planning process confusing and the amount of information overwhelming. We want to make things simpler.

The Wells Fargo Community is dedicated to helping you understand your education planning options by:

  • Bringing students, parents, college counselors, and financial advisors together so they can share their knowledge, advice, and experiences – all in one place.
  • Spanning the entire college experience so you’ll find relevant conversations whether you’re preparing for college, in college, or done with college.
  • Addressing key topics including saving for college, finding the right college, choosing a major, and preparing for life after college.

*~*~*

For more information about the Wells Fargo Community, please visit Wells Fargo Community’s site. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own. #WFCommunity #spon

Hump Day Hook – Week 9 {Into a Mirror Darkly}

mirrorcovermedTime for another Hump Day hook!  I spent the past week shoulder deep in massive edits for my February release – and my first instinct was to post an excerpt from my new additions to it…but then my publisher emailed me and they’re putting the publisher logo on my cover now…so I thought I’d wait until I get the finalized cover to post again…or until I come up with something else to use in its place.

So we’re back with the ever marvelous Into a Mirror Darkly. Now that the bulk of my editing week is behind me I’m anxious to get back to work on this one. Red always makes me happy.

But for this week, I thought I’d introduce Junior to you.  That’s Ronald Stiltskin, Jr.:

Junior – he was far from careful.  He stumbled out of the brush carrying a bow twice his size.  The man barely came to Red’s belly button, with proportionate limbs but a large head.  His face looked like it had been flattened in a great vice, his eyes and lips barely two fingers apart, scrunched up tiny above and below the long pointed nose.

Large ears that folded over and pointed out away from his head with a bit of fur at each tip bounced with each racing step.  His large feet skidded to a halt when he spotted her at the gate.  “Red! Let me in quick!”

 

Hump Day Hook asks authors to post one paragraph of one of their stories, whether a WIP, one contracted, or already published.  Please visit and comment on the participants – you might just stumble on the next great read for your library!  To see more participants, click on the HDH banner below:

Hump Day Hook – Week 8 {Into A Mirror Darkly}

mirrorcovermedTime for another Hump Day hook!  I worked up a mock-up cover for Mirror Darkly this past week.  I do have such fun with these.  So, since I’d played with the cover, I thought I’d use it for HDH.

Of course, it helps that I started my 500K Challenge and so have been working on this one again!

And now, without further ado, an exchange between Rose Red, the bounty hunter & Wulfric, the great hunter:

“I’m sorry.  Did you say you called Queen Melisandra, the vilest of Morgana’s queens, Mellie?”

“Should have seen her. I thought she was going to breath fire.” Green eyes twinkled to match his laughter as he tugged her stiff body closer to him.  “Solange heard about it and came to get me out. That’s why I owe her.”

“Solange had to get you out?”

“Apparently I’m not charming.”

“And you’re no prince.” Red’s lips twitched in her efforts to hide the laughter bursting up from her belly.  In a last ditch attempt she snatched the lower lip between her teeth and tried to keep her glare in check.

 

Hump Day Hook asks authors to post one paragraph of one of their stories, whether a WIP, one contracted, or already published.  Please visit and comment on the participants – you might just stumble on the next great read for your library!  To see more participants, click on the HDH banner below:

500k – Now That’s a Challenge

500kA week ago my joy and confidence was bursting forth.

I said that after 2012, I was ready for 2013. I laughed in the face of danger (yup, quoting Lion King here, times are desperate).  I told 2013 to “Bring It”.

I made the monumental and overwhelming decision to join the 500k in 2013 writing challenge.

In brief it doesn’t look so bad.  1370 words/day?  Easy peasy.

500k?  Holy cow what was I thinking?

Then a couple of days ago my confidence was squashed under a thumb and my muse got grumpy and I got grumpy and I pretended the challenge wasn’t real.

My confidence is still a little shaky, but I am determined to work through it.  I have my new series to work on, and with 500k staring me in the face I could write 5 books in the series with that much playroom.

It’s a lofty goal that I’m certain I could accomplish if I got in “the zone”. After all about 3 years ago I wrote about 500k in 4 months time when I really got into my stories.

So off I go.  Send caffeine, chocolate, and prayers for my sanity.

Because if the 500k doesn’t make me insane – my characters’ trauma drama will!!

A Winter Wonderland…

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