What’s on the iPod: Backwards Walk by Frightened Rabbit
Today is my first official day back. All mothers have been sent back to where they came from, and the house has returned to normal. It was a wonderful time seeing family. I’ll miss them.
We spent the time preparing for a party. I’ve realized something about myself – I work much better alone (no surprise – I am a freelancer). I had the help of two women and a husband, yet I got the most accomplished when everyone was looking the other way. I cooked all the food, minus the samosas and veggie tray, for the party, and the only casualty was when the pumpkin decided to burn on one side and deflate. That was my soup bowl (I bake stew in a pumpkin). Out came the crock pot. The stew was cooked, so it was a matter of reheating. And I made it thick enough so that bowls weren’t necessary, a must with a buffet-style party.
The party was a huge hit. The step-daughter was bartender and served up incredible strawberry margaritas (she worked behind the bar during college). The husband kept the whisky glasses full, and I circulated. It ended by eleven. We put food away and went to bed. By morning the dishes had been done. Step-daughter had done them. Amen. The kitchen was spotless. What a great way to wake up!
Sunday we rested and took the moms for a walk. Monday, we headed to Manhattan on a whim, where my mother got her first view of the city from atop Rockefeller Center. She was in awe. My cynical mom, who makes a sport out of not taking things seriously, used the word “wonderful” more times than I’ve ever heard her utter. We ate at Candle 79, probably the best vegan restaurant in the country, and she uttered “fantastic” a few more times. If a restaurant can please a die-hard meat eater, they’re doing something right.
His mom flew home Tuesday, and my mom got on the train yesterday. It’s quiet here. But I need to get back to work. Hospital bills are rolling in. The surgery and stay cost just under $21K. I’m responsible for $750 of it. Thank God for insurance.
Back to the grind. Two projects to start today – one I hope to complete by tomorrow. I loved the time away, but with NaNo started and the bank account needing more, it’s time.
And I missed the interaction with you all. I know I was posting, but I had little time to sit here and really interact. I’m glad to be back.
So what’s new with you?
Hey Lori:
Welcome back to our world. 🙂
Not much new except my 3-Day Walk is 2 weeks from tomorrow-yikes! I am getting soooo excited. It is such an awesome event.
I had a disturbing exchange of emails about payment terms with my favorite client, but I ended up picking up the phone & talking live and all is right with the world again. I think the client is under a lot of stress right now and I was so glad I decided to stop the email back and forth and just call to talk to her.
I advocate talking live. It makes such a difference in resolving issues.
Have a great weekend, Lori!
Hi Lori – glad you enjoyed your time away and your family visit. I know exactly what you mean. We used to host Thanksgiving before we moved halfway across the country, and it was so much fun, but totally exhausting.
I have great news to share! My proposal to the Popular Culture Conference was accepted! I'll be presenting a paper on romantic advertising in April. I'm so excited, but a little nervous because it will be my first conference.
I turned in a couple of assignments to an editor earlier this week. I've worked with her once before and enjoyed it, so I hope this relationship continues.
I have a question for you: How long is appropriate to wait for a response on a query? I'd like to follow up on something I sent out last week, but I don't want to seem like a nag.
Ashley-that's fabulous. Congratulations!!
I picked up a new assignment that's due at the end of the month. It's for one of those new clients, so there won't be a 4-digit paycheck attached…but I'll settle for a triple digit check as long as the digits are all to the left of the decimal point.
Yes, I still need to get more ideas and LOIs out there.
All that going on and you're doing NaNo too?! You're tireless! I'm unofficially participating in NaNo this year, meaning I'm breaking all the rules. I'm working on a screenplay instead of a novel and it was already started prior to November 1. I'm only counting new words though, so I'm not a total cheater. LOL
So glad to have you back!
Sounds like a lot of fun.
Can I live Nano vicariously through you, since there is no way in hell I'm doing it this year?
Work-wise, everything's pretty much the same.
I also signed up for Nano. I haven't got a great start with it, though. Hope it gets better soon. Yikes.
I had to take the morning off and get my hair done. The shaggy dog look just isn't in anymore. I won't even mention the grays.
Devon, I think you've earned the break! LOL I don't know how you managed it all those years with the pile of stress you were shoveling.
I haven't even begun NaNo, Wendy. I'm in sad shape. LOL
Kathy, I have no doubt I'll not finish. The goal, for me, is to start something and get it outlined. If I get that much done I'll feel like I've accomplished something.
Good advice on phone chats, Cathy. I think in many cases, they do solve issues.
Go for it, Paula. Three digits is better than a lot of lonely zeros!
Fantastic news, Ashley! Congratulations! I knew you had it in you. :))
Hi Lori,
I've been a lurker on your site for quite awhile. What I love about your blog is how razor-sharp you stay focused on the bottom line of freelancing — the $$ coming in each month and your efforts to market yourself. Sure, you talk about other aspects and parts of your life, but you never lose that focus. I admire you.
Lori, I'm buckling down to a fun-filled month of juggling a husband, a horse, a writing career… AND NaNo! I predict my time management issues will come to a head this month, and hopefully it'll force me get better at budgeting my time in order to do it all. ;o) Like you, though, I don't necessarily do it to get 50,000 words — my goal this year is simply to finish last year's novel. I use NaNo to get motivated to work on my own writing, since that seems to suffer the other 11 months out of the year!
Maureen, that's very nice of you to say! And I'm glad you de-lurked. I hope you make it a habit. 🙂
The goal is to help others learn from my mistakes (in part). It's also to keep me on track.
Katharine, good goal. I've been trying all day to get to the first page, but work is interrupting. 🙂
What's new? I'm making roman shades for my office… 😉 Glad thinks are returning to your version of normal.
Anne, that sounds very creative of you! You continue to be an inspiration. 🙂