Posted by Christine Rimmer
Things I hate today…
Hmm. Should I have a better attitude? You bet. After all, it's May. Spring has sprung, all green and gorgeous. I've finished a book and I'm in my break time--the month between books when I have plenty of free time to do all those things I never get around to while I'm on deadline.
Like visit my parents who live halfway across the continent in California. Now, don't get me wrong. I love visiting my parents. It's been far too long and I can't wait to see them.
But the problem--meaning the thing I hate--is that I have to fly to get there. Flying nowadays is the closest an ordinary, law-abiding American woman is going to get to being in prison. I believe Dave Berry said that--or something pretty close--a while back in one of his columns. I’m with Dave. You can’t even take water on a plane anymore. Or wait. You can. But you have to pay four bucks for it after you get past the security checkpoint.
Now, yes, I know. National Security is a top priority these days and things could be worse. Can’t they always?
I believe that they were worse not long ago. Hey, remember when you couldn't take lipstick on the flight with you? Now you can. And you can take liquids you bring from home--in tiny bottles, all of which have to fit in a quart-sized zip bag. Last time I flew, I forgot about the itty-bitty bottle of hand sanitizer I left roaming loose in my purse. I ended up with half my clothes off in the special area for people who don't know the rules. You know, where you stand there with your bare arms out and they run the electronic wand over you while people who have sense enough to put their hand sanitizer in the right place hurry on to their gate, casting you the occasional pitying glance.
But hey. I may have to be separately searched, but I've got my lip gloss and my lips look great. And lookin’ good is something, after all.
And flying isn't all I hate. I also hate that for a writer, a book takes so long to be “done.” As I mentioned above, I did finally type The End on my latest. After which I made several passes through it, cleaning it up, getting it just right before I dropped it in the chute to wing its happy way to Manhattan.
But you know what? No sooner did I send the last one off than the one before it came back. Because every writer knows that manuscripts just won't stay gone. Out they go--and back they come. First for line edits and later for galleys. I do like that I get a couple more passes at it. I do want each book to be as good as I can make it when it arrives on the shelves, where readers will be putting down their hard-earned cash for it. So I suppose I need to focus on that, rather than gritching about how manuscripts are like boomerangs: they won’t stop coming back.
What else? Frankly, a thousand things. But for today, the flying and the boomerang books are enough.
What about you? Hate anything today? Come on, you know you do....
Oh, and once again I'm writing this ahead because I'll be away from my computer on my blog day. That's right. That's another thing I hate. When I'm not here on my blog day. But I'll reply to all comments as soon as I can get back to my desk again.
Maybe by then I'll even be in a better mood. Hey. It could happen...
ChristineRimmer.com
My Blog
Myspace Page
10 comments:
I really don't hate anything, in
fact I really did like the book I
just finished. It was Midsummer
Madness, written by Christine Rimmer!
It was part of a package of books I
won from Author Sound Relations and
My Tote Bag.
Pat Cochran
The only thing I can think of is annoying phone calls from telemarketers and the recorded messages. I was in the middle of something at work, raced to answer the phone, and it was a dumb recorded message from an insurance company. X#!*B#! Then the telemarketers are so annoying. I always say nicely the 1st time, "No, I am not interested." and then they keep on talking like I didn't say anything. I wind up hanging up on them. O.k. that is my vent for the day!
Michele L.
Flying can be a nightmare. Just make sure you get there with ample time for the long security lines. It's definitely better to be super early than late. Like Michele, I hate telemarketers, too. They do have a habit of calling during dinner time. I also hate it when people yak real loud on their cell phones. I also hate rude people.
I don't mind the flying hassels much anymore, and since I registered for the Do Not Call list the telemarketing calls have all but ceased. Except the silly ones from the politicians that are recordings. Yuck. But Jane hit my pet peeve. Yesterday in the grocery store I was so tempted to take a cell phone from a woman's hand and tell her to Pay Attention to what she was doing. Thanks for the chance to rant, Christine!
Yesterday, was actually ot a bad day, so I'll save my hate for the day for another day. :)
Pat, thank you! Shy Juliet did find her brave self--not to mention, her man. So pleased you enjoyed Midsummer Madness. I loved the cover on the new edition you received. Cody, the hero, was lookin' major hunky...
Michele, I so hear you! Telemarketers always call me when I'm in the shower. And for some insane reason, I always get out and drip water all down the hallway rushing to answer, thinking it's probably something important. Not...
Jane, exactly! And those people with the blu tooth thingys attached to their ears so it looks like they're talking loudly to no one. That's just weird. If you're going to go blu tooth, could ya keep it down, please...
Shari, you are so welcome. Ranting is actually something I enjoy. Is that bad? Oh, well, we all have our flaws.
Dina, excellent idea. One always needs a time to rant. But sometimes it's just not right now!
Post a Comment