Too Funny

For anyone out there who's ever gotten a rejection letter, this is for you.

In other news, not a whole lot to report. The rewrite of Ichabod is proceeding--bumpily at first, but more smoothly now. Work goes well--the current project of most importance is a website redesign, and I'm looking forward to that. Maine has been hot the past few days, but it should cool soon, and we're hoping to make it to the shore this weekend, if it's not raining. I'll keep you posted.

That is the question.

I have some book-earned money that needs spending (since I want to not pay as much in taxes). I need a new computer. So . . . should I buy one pre-built or make one on my own?

I love it when I have such earth-shattering problems.

Happy Birthday to Me

It's not one of those "watershed birthdays" or anything. The big 3-0 won't come until next year. But I'm a year older now, and a lot has happened to me in the past year. I got another Masters degree, found a job, bought a house, moved across the country, finished a final draft of one book, a first draft of another one and had one published. That's not bad for a single year. It's crazy to think that all of those things have happened. For a while there, some of them seemed like they'd never happen. I know there were times in my MLS program that it felt like I'd never finish. And the job search had some uncertain times. It's nice to be able to look back at it all and see that everything's turned out well. I'm not sure if I'd like to have every year of my life have so much happen, though. Then again, I don't think I'd like every year to have nothing happen, either.

What would I like to get done before I'm thirty? In an ideal world, I'd love to have found an editor or agent for my writing. I'm certainly looking forward to having two children before I'm thirty. Having most of the furniture I need for my house--and having the major repairs finished--would be nice. Finishing another book or two is a definite goal. For a lot of it, we'll just have to see what happens.

In any case, Happy Birthday to me, and happy birthday to anyone else who has a birthday around this time.

It's a . . . girl(?)

Actually, the doctors aren't convinced we're going to have a girl. Maybe it's a boy. The ultrasound today came back normal and everything, but the baby's breech right now, so it was hard to tell gender, apparently. (I'm hardly an expert on ultrasounds.) However, we were given a "tentative" answer of "girl." So . . . not really sure what that does for us at this point. We'll have another ultrasound in 10 weeks, and until then, we'll just have to settle for being sort of kind of sure the baby might possibly be a girl.

(And we pay doctors to give us these answers?)

Rejection

I heard back from the agent over the weekend. He was very nice about it, and he had some very helpful suggestions, but the end result is the same: a no. This is kind of a downer, obviously. I mean, I don't write to get published, but I wouldn't turn a deal down if it came along. ;-) I suppose in the end it's good that I'm getting better at this--something said agent noted in his letter to me--and that it will all happen or not, in its own time frame.

Sometimes I'm just impatient.

In any case, I'm thinking about the revisions he suggested, and in the meantime I've sent the manuscript off to the editor who asked to see it in its entirety. Meanwhile, I think it's about time I got around to revising Ichabod . . .

Robert Jordan Passes Away

I just read online that Robert Jordan passed away over the weekend. I know that some people have given his books a hard time as the series wore on, but I just wanted to say that they were and are some of my favorites. I still remember the day I first say Eye of the World in the library, and what an impact that had on me as a reader. I've read each of his books as soon as they were released, and I'm very sad to see him go.

The Dashner Dude

Found a blog that has some interesting tidbits for those of you who are interested about the "Road to Publication" process for various authors. James Dashner is posting about his own experience on his "Dashner Dude" blog. Go check it out--it's got some interesting things.

Hungry

I think I'd like dieting a whole lot more--and be more successful at it--if not for the fact that I don't like being hungry. Of course, as I write this, I realize that there are starving people out there in ______ (insert country of your choice), and that I really don't know what it's like to be hungry, and that I shouldn't whine. I totally agree with you.

But this doesn't change the fact that I'm hungry. In fact, now that I think about it, that argument (the one about starving people in _____) doesn't hold much weight (pun intended). I mean, what jerk would go up to someone who was really sad and say "There are people who have clinical depression who are much worse off than you, so stop being sad"? Or go to someone who's paralyzed and say "There are tons of dead people who can't even breathe anymore" or . . . you get the picture.

Since when did someone have to have a licensing certifying they are the most worst off person in a certain area in order to complain about it?

Did I mention the fact that I'm hungry? And I'm at the reference desk, and I can't eat for another 20 minutes? And I'm feeling whiny?

Well I am.

Problems with Technology

I'm used to computer problems, and I expect problems when I'm setting up sound systems for my television or getting the hang of something new. But I'm totally clueless when it comes to non-electronic forms of technology--such as fridges. Last night, my refrigerator stopped working. I had no idea what to do. This morning, my car wouldn't start. Again--I was more or less clueless. The fact that the fridge started up again and my car eventually started has more to do with me being stubborn than actually fixing them. When my computer freaks out, I usually know what to do. When something else does, I'm reminded of how non-tech people probably feel when their computers go. And did I mention my water pressure at home is having troubles?

In any case, I'm working on fixing these things. I just wish I could do it without paying someone else a lot of money.

Lack of Updates

I know I'm doing a terrible job of updating my blog. The sad thing is, there just isn't that much to update right now. Still waiting on the internet to get hooked up at my house, and I don't spend a ton of extra time at work when I can post. So what am I up to?

Unpacking, lawn mowing, furniture buying and assembling, shopping--fun home-owner type stuff. I went to another auction on Saturday, and I enjoyed that. Got some nice antique furniture for a steal--always nice.

Writing-wise, I'm working on planning out my next novel. Getting the characters down and the main plot points. The magic system is based in linguistic theory, so I'm waiting on a few books before I flesh it out fully, which in turn will have an impact on the plot. There are some good things brewing in my mind, though--I'm feeling quite positive about this book.

No Internet Yet

Apparently a dead tree's blocking access to the cable the internet people need to give me my internet. So now I have to get rid of said tree, and then reschedule.

And I'm still sick.

Sick

I know it's been a while since I posted, and I'm sorry. Really I am. Tomorrow I'm getting internet at my house, so I'll be able to waste time at home, which I'm sure will help me in my blogging endeavors. For now, I've got a head cold, and I'm tired of it. Nothing like trying to think while it feel like your head's stuffed in a pillow. It kills my efficiency levels, too. I just seem to get things done slower. Yuck.