Monday, January 16, 2006

A day in the life...

A holiday from work and I was looking forward to spending the day writing. It would have been better ("Mom, can you take me to the mall?" "No.") if the children hadn't spent the morning ("Just for half an hour. I need jeans" "No.") begging me for food ("Really, Mom. I haven't been anywhere this entire weekend. Can you take me to the mall?" "No."), favors, and entertainment. ("What if I did a favor or a job for you in exchange?" "No.") My husband's car was leaking oil so HE came home for lunch ("What if Dad drops me off at the mall and you just pick me up?" "No.") and then daughter number two came home from camping this weekend. ("I need to be picked up now." "Right"--sigh. "Hey, can you drop me off at the mall while you go pick her up?" "No.") Then I actually cooked dinner, because I don't when I'm working all day. ("Mom, I really need jeans." "We were just at Western Wearhouse last weekend. Couldn't you have bought jeans then?" "These weren't holey then. Besides, I can't shop there." "Yes, but you were at the mall." "I didn't know I needed them then." "No.") So I'm signing off right now, grabbing a cookie and writing in bed--I do have to work tomorrow. ("Can you take me tomorrow?" "No.")
--Gabi

Sunday, January 08, 2006

Procrastination, thy name is...I

I'm giving a talk tomorrow night at a local Hastings Bookstore, and while I have a title ("Who needs Grammar? That's what an Editor is for" and other Ways to Sabotage Your Career), I have no idea what I'm speaking about. Oh I'll have something by the time I show up, notes, ideas, etc., but the talk would go much smoother if I were better prepared. But it's late, and I had laundry to fold, and I have to work tomorrow. I'll be fine once I get started, but I don't know why I'm putting myself through this. I actually like to give talks, but I usually am better prepared.

Having said that, I am also leading a local romance readers' group on Tuesday. I've read the book, but I haven't prepared anything for it either. I might be forming bad habits here.

Recent reads: Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld, Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Crusie, Falling Awake by Jayne Ann Krentz, and currently I'm reading I'm No Angel by Patti Berg.

--Gabi