I am starting this blog to record some specific plans I have for the future and to describe what it's like to go through what I'm planning. I have had depression and have been on medication for eight years. My husband and I are going to try to get pregnant this fall and I will be weaning myself from medication in order to make it safer for the baby. I won't be on anything but vitamins and exercise! Not because of Tom Cruise though. Right now I am feeling really well and hope that will continue even after I'm off meds. I still have some problems with sleeping but that's something I hope I'll be able to cope with despite going off my medication. I am a writer and a poet. I've had some non-fiction published but not the three novels I've written. It is my ultimate goal to make a living as a novelist. It's an uphill battle but I had some encouraging news lately. I got accepted to a writers' retreat at the Vermont Studio Center on a fellowship. I had applied once before but got a partial scholarship and was unable to go. Using the same application materials, this jury accepted my request. The retreat will be during the month of September in upstate Vermont. It should be a lovely time of year. I love New England as I went to school there at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It may be rather chilly so I'll have to be prepared. I'm wondering if I'll get the chance to go to Montreal while I'm there as it's only two hours away. I've been there twice and love the city. It's also a good opportunity to soak up some French. William, my husband, and I are starting over with French (we've both studied it before) and I hope I'll feel more up to speed by the time September comes around.
My parents are in California right now at my favorite vacation spot north of San Francisco. Our family has a vacation home there that has been in the family since 1947. We have my great-grandparents to thank for that. It would be way out of our league now if we didn't already have the house. It has a beautiful view of an ocean bay and is very close to some spectacular beaches. William and I will be going in July for a second honeymoon. Our first one was only two days so this will sort of make up for that. I can't wait to go.
William and I live with my parents right now to save money for a house. We're hoping to have enough by the end of the year to get our own place. Luckily we all get along and it's a big enough house we're not on top of each other all the time. My parents have been great through everything. They made our Renaissance wedding possible (that's another story) and we had the dream wedding we never thought we'd have. Now Renaissance Magazine has accepted our pictures for their wedding photo contest. We've won one of the top three spots; they haven't made up their minds yet which will be which. William gave them an interview over the phone, probably much better than I could have done. I think he made everything sound as wonderful as it was.
