Backpacking and other Minutia

Tomorrow I am going backpacking in Arkansas with a wonderful group of young women and three fantastic women. I am looking forward to it, I have never been backpacking before--this will be mine and a few of the girls first time, and I am a bit nervous, but I think physically I am up to it,and emotionally I am ready. The thought of being away from civilization for three solid days sounds like heaven, I am taking my bible, blank paper and pen, two books, my noisy brain and my new camera. My husband and my daughter gave me a Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 for a combination mothers day/anniversary present and this will be the first time I will be trying it out. Everything we need for three days we will be carrying in on our backs, I have been thinking it will be turtle-esqe. I am still a bit behind in all things, on all fronts, School lacks 10 days if you are counting, and we are counting, with bated breath, as once again my daughter is walking the edge in a few of her classes. I think she will come in over the wire. I am tired, she is tired, and honestly it will be nice to have three months where we don't argue over school, I miss her and frankly I think she misses me. Poetry wise I have been receiving rejections right and left, one rejection sucked my air out, and one rejection breathed life and resolve back into my poets heart. I will not have a poem in the Texas Poetry Calendar, which broke my heart, but I will try again next year, the Texas Poetry Calendar is a wonderful publication and I hope everyone continues to support it, I know I will. I also received a rejection from Hanging Loose, but with ink, they wrote, these letters have merit, please send us something new. I am looking for something new, I have started to send out my chapbook, keep your fingers crossed that I find a home for it.