My Days of Being Carded Are Over...

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I don't know about the rest of you, but I still have those days when--given the right lighting and the proper application of makeup--I can convince myself that if need be, I could still pass for someone in my twenties (I'm 35). 

This theory was shot to hell a few days ago when I watched myself on TV.  I appeared on a local access cable program, talking about how public speaking relates to self-esteem.  Watching myself on TV, I was able to make note of several things:

  • I have a really annoying habit of closing my eyes when I'm making a point.  I think I do it to gather my thoughts, but I end up saying half a sentence with my eyes closed.  Gaaa!  Why haven't family and friends told me of this before??
  • My arms are not as toned as I think they are.  I wore a sleeveless shirt for the interview and am regretting it.  Enough said.
  • I have a lovely profile and a not-so-great head-on look.  I will now be conducting all future conversations with my head arched to the left.
  • If I saw me on TV, didn't know me, and had to guess my age, I'd probably go with mid to late 30's.  It's in the crinkles at the eyes and around the mouth and yes, even a little age showing in the neck. 

It's not that I'm displeased with how I look.  It's more that I had one of those awakening, "Hey, no one's going to blink if you try to beer at the bar" type moments. 

Next time I appear on TV, I'm going to wear my hair in pigtails and carry a teddy bear and see if that helps.

It's In Committee

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Okay, I will now utter the words my husband longs to hear: Blair was right.  Once more, just for good measure (and because I don't plan on saying them again for as long as possible): He was right.

Blair's been telling me for days that the lack of response from the publishing company for the cat book has nothing to do with me or my work and is more likely a reflection that it's a low priority on the totem pole, or they've got bigger fires to put out, or they just hadn't gotten around to it yet.

That was the case, as my editor e-mailed yesterday and said she'd been on vacation but had submitted my outline and it could be up to a week before approval/revisions were granted.  She recommended I not spend too much time writing until I hear back from them on the outline.

The possibility of an extended deadline actually doesn't thrill me.  I cleared my schedule this month to focus on this project but I can only hold off life for so long.  I've got a lot of speaking engagements, classes I'm teaching, and articles due starting in mid-September.  I'd rather finish this project on time.

So since I had the first 3 chapters (there are 6 chapters total) ready to go, I went ahead and e-mailed them to her.  It seems silly to me to approve or revise an outline when you can have the finished product there in front of you. I'm not sure what to do about working on the rest.  It seems wasteful to put in a bunch more time on something that may be revised or not used, yet at the same time, if I get the go ahead I've still got a ton of work to do.  I'll probably keep up on the research, add some new items, and do some work but not kill myself (and work on other projects I've been neglecting).

My printer for Lessons In Stalking called yesterday to say the proofs should be at my door by this afternoon.  Yayyyy!   It's happening!  (Wait till I break it to Blair that we get to spend yet another weekend reading the book). 

The temperature has cooled here to a lovely 83 degrees.  When I left for yoga this morning at 6 am, it was actually cold out.  Fall, my favorite season, is on the way!

BTW, most of you know how Blair and I go all out for Halloween.  We dress up, dress up the house, decorate the yard, etc.  But we're having a bit of brainlock this year on what to dress up as.  If anyone has any ideas, let us know. (And I do not want to see "Star Wars" or "Lord of the Rings" suggestions coming our way.  Be creative!)

Dena

Still Nothing....

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I still have not heard anything from my editor on this cat book!  I submitted the sample outline and chapter info last Thursday.  I sent another e-mail yesterday, Wednesday, to check on the outline and also get a feel for deadlines.  According to the original schedule, half of the material was due yesterday. But that was pending outline approval.  I'll have close to half of the material ready to send in today but it's nerve wracking being left up in the air.  Are they not responding because I'm on the right track and they've other fires to put out so they're not worried about me?  Or are they holding secret late-night meetings on how they can fire me and still legally retain my research??

I'm going to have to break down and place a phone call today.  I loathe the phone but often e-mail just doesn't do the trick.

I have picked my game up a little, which is also resulting in less sleep for me.  Tuesday night I woke up 2:30 am from dreaming about moving blocks of text about lions around my house, trying to find the right place for it.  My eyes popped open and BING! I was up.  Not "maybe I can go back to sleep if I try."  I was 100% wide awake.  So I got up and did an hour and a half of work.  Then last night I took a two-hour break to watch "So You Think You Can Dance," and so worked from 10pm - 12-30am to make up for lost time.  Again, I dreamed about cutting and pasting blocks of text.

I really don't feel stressed so much as just concerned.  I'd like to know what's going on.  Part of it is that I've put my life on hold to work on this book and I need it to be finished so I can get back to other projects. (Some very exciting things in the works which I will blog about in a day or two). 

On a side note, my Toastmasters group had an awards ceremony and along with the real awards handed out joke awards to everyone.  I won the "Vroom!" award for being super-hyper and always taking off out of the gate.  That is my biggest public speaking challenge--to talk slower.  I was eating a bit of candy in the meeting the other day and one guy I hardly know walked by, shook his head, and said, "Do you really think you need the sugar?" Funny!