So why isn't this about the Muse Conference?
This past week which I had high hopes for was particularly disappointing. A particularly time wasted week. I didn’t post a blog so I could attend the muse online conference but got an ear infection instead. It took four visits to the doctors. Two last week. The other two were because it was treated like a bacterial infection. The ENT diagnosed it fungal. That’s why the antibiotics weren’t working. Who knew? And me a nurse. I even worked at an urgent care center. Didn’t know there was such a thing.
*as she explains about her mother in law’s gall bladder*
The ENT nurse practitioner diagnosed it by looking in the microscope, seeing the spiky white strands of fungus, vacuuming them out with a tube made for that and then squirting antifungal powder in my ear.
Three days of throbbing, feeling my heart beat on the side of my head disappeared over Sunday. Not up to the computer I finished our book club pick by Barbara Kingsolver, “The Bean Trees.” I marveled over her simple prose. Sentences like: “Lou Ann’s breath came out like a slow leak in a tire.” After an emotional buildup and referring to the protagonist’s job in a tire shop, her fear of exploding tires and finally that she was taking a long car trip with a car not her own.
So why isn’t this about the muse conference? In my spare time I was only able to take one day of a whole week’s workshop, “Marketing on a shoestring.” I’ll summarize it for you by Saturday’s post. And the following Tuesday I’ll also share the only chat I had the time to attend during which I won a collection of stories. Woot! I however may switch them around. *Yeah, I’m mean like that*.
If you’re a writer or interested in becoming one, go now to www.themuseonlineconference.com and register for next year, 2012. You’ll be glad you did. Bookmark it and look at it periodically for there’s promises of pitches and other workshops during the year.
What did you do last week? Did you attend the conference or learn something amazing? I certainly hope you were healthy and happy. Here’s to more empathy for all those little kids with ear infections.
My very first post, on the muse online writers conference is here:: https://clarbojahn.wordpress.com/2010/10/20/hello-world-2/
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Clarbojahn's Blog 
So sorry about your ear 😦 Hope It’s feeling better! I had terrible ear infections as a child, so I can relate.
I love Barbara Kingsolver. I think Animal Dreams is my favorite, but she has some excellent essays as well.
Hope this week is better 🙂
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Yes, I have a new empathy for the babies and toddlers with ear infections. I am so glad my experience is almost over. Saw the ENT today for another vacuum and squirt of antifungal powder. And will see for a follow up next Tuesday.
Barbara Kingsolver wrote a series of essays called “Small Wonders” that is on my to read list. I had started it once but never finished it. No criticism on her though.
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So sorry you were sick and didn’t get to attend the entire conference. Glad you’re better.
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Thank you, Suzicate.
I am so much better but still not one hundred percent. Doc vacuumed more out today, some closer to the ear drum and gave me another treatment.
NO more trobbing though.
Fortunately muse keeps the workshops up for a number of weeks so I can still go read up on them. Just won’t get any feedback. 😦
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Boy what a week you had. Hope you’re feeling better! Never hear of a fungus ear infection. You must be disappointed you missed the conference.
Funny you mentioned Barbara Kingsolver. I live in Dayton and usually attend the Dayton Literary Peace Prize awards and luncheon. But, was out of town this year when she received the award. She has never been a favorite author, but would have attended. We’re tyring to make Dayton known as city of peace. also am involved with Dayton International Peace Museum and worked on peace exhibits.
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Sounds like Dayton is the place to go for peace festivals. Yes, it was news to me to about Kingsolver winning the peace prize.
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Ouch. That sounds like a zinger of a ear infection. I had good intentions for the conference, but other “life” stuff stole my “muse” time. Sigh. Back to work this week.
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I’m so sorry to hear you also couldn’t take full advantage of Muse. However if you registered be sure and go back to read up on the workshops you missed and want to read further. All will be open for a couple of weeks so you can do that. 🙂
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I have had an external ear infection also. When I worked in pediatrics I got to know about ears fairly well. A pediatrician looked in my ear and told me that I had athlete’s foot of the ear aka ear canal fungal infection. I got it from swimming a lot in an indoor pool. So now when I go swimming I have to put diluted vinegar drops in my ear before and after swimming and then wear ear plugs in my ears. Hope you feel better.
BTW The hyperlink for the muse conference didn’t go through so I’ll search for it else where. 🙂
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I’ll fix that link. Thanks for the update.
I didn’t know it was common. Sounds so gross when you call it athlete’s foot of the ear canal. I’m just glad the ENT finally diagnosed and treated it. I was in severe pain. And to have it for over six weeks while I got antibiotics that didn’t work was no help. I went back yesterday and it’s on the drum. I just had a very bad case of it. I have to go back in one week again. Will hope it’s gone by then. It’s much better already just after one treatment.
Did you get all that done for you when you had it? it’s so unglamorous.
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Hi Clar,
Sorry to hear about your ear infection..OUCH! You are so right ,they are downright painful. I’ve had one in my life and I will not forget it. “Life” has a way of interfering in our finely tuned plans, doesn’t it? Hope you are feeling better. Thanks for the muse conference link. I look forward to hearing about the one session you were able to attend. Take care!
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Thanks, Kathy.
Even though it’s not all better, I feel so much less pain. Advil is taking care of it for the most part, now. The hardest thing has been to keep it dry. Just bought some ear plugs for that very thing. The doc said cotton balls but it seemed like all that did was to wick the moisture right on in there.
Since we’re going out of town tomorrow I’m preparing the muse post as we speak. I’ll schedule it to publish for Saturday morning. Hope you can attend the Muse conference next year. 🙂
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My whole body went into cringe mode as I got a visual of that ear vacuuming and anti-fungal squirting! Bbbbrrrrrrr! … glad it’s gettting better!
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Yeah! It’s gross!
Maybe I should have spared you. 🙂 .
I’m glad I’m feeling better, too.
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Oh man! I’m so sorry you had to miss most of the conference! But, thank you for the shout out about it! I like keeping my options open in terms of conferences/conventions (especially those that don’t require hundreds of dollars on top of travel expense to *get* to the conference!)
I’m glad you feel better, and I look forward to the insights you’ll be sharing!
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Thanks, Liza. I hope you can attend the conference next year. There are just wonderful workshops and chats galore. There’s networking and critiquing and pitching to agents and publishers. Everything from a more expensive conference. Of course if you felt like it you could donate to keep it free. I haven’t yet but I might, just because I believe like you, That it’s so convenient and expense of travel isn’t there.
Thanks for visiting and stopping by to comment. 🙂
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That does not sound fun (the ear infection, that is). Never heard about this conference. Will have to check it out. Nice to “meet” you Clar. Victoria
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Welcome to my blog, Victoria.
Yes, check out the conference. 🙂 I think if you are able to attend you will be happily surprised.
Happy to “meet” you, too.
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Ear infections are the worst! I had a month-long one a few years ago. Ugh!
I missed the muse online conference this year, but will definitely sign up for next year.
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OH! I feel for you. Mine has lasted about six weeks since it was misdiagnosed twice and of course it just got worse.
Yes, do sign up. There might be goodies during the year so sign up now and check back from time to time.
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