Here I am...in my old stomping grounds. Starting tomorrow, but tomorrow it's real. I'm not jumping into ETL or something so big I can't wrap my brain around it. This time, I'm trying to be sensible. Yes, I've tried being sensible before. But this is different, this journey began over eating ice cream. I mean, it's a fresh approach right? We went over our plan for the week (through Sunday) during...you guessed it lunch. Our last hurrah. Yeah, I've had a million of those. For good measure, we did end it with Dairy Queen, though. But really, we are both (and actually my friend Diana is doing a version of it with us, too) taking the first step of no more eating out until Friday (that's when everyone goes.) It may sound like a tiny step, which it actually is, but we eat out nearly every single day. We both love food, and equally importantly we love getting out of the office. Secondly, I'm joining a gym tomorrow. Yes...a gym. I haven't belonged to one since we moved back out here, and it shows. I'm also calling a trainer tomorrow. I'm hoping she can help me figure out my plan to get back in the game. Thirdly, no meat for three days between now and Sunday. Sadly, meat has become a part of every day for me. I don't even love it most of the time...but I'm fat and lazy, and eating meat is just easier (for me anyway.) I don't have to really plan when I'm eating meat. Well, I'm going to plan three days, and I'm hoping I'll immediately recognize how much better it makes me feel. And lastly, no regular pop through Sunday. These goals are all attainable, and I'm hoping the first step in many steps back to good health. My hope is that each week I add to these changes until it's all healthy. I'm trying not to scare myself off ;) And it feels really good to have people to do this with.
I received the latest professional edit on the book this morning. I haven't gone through much of it yet, but I did read her letter (notes). It's really promising in a lot of ways. I felt great through the first page... The second page addressed some stuff I know I need to work on, and I felt fine with that. The third page had some suggestions of what I should add to help tie things together (but I don't know that I agree with all of them...), but more importantly the last paragraph ended with, "I don't think this book is ready for publishing." She explained this is a hot genre right now (who knew?) and you only get one shot with the agents. It needs to be tighter. So, I've been sitting on those words all day. I'll admit, I was a little teary eyed when I read it, but there were no actual tears. The words sting. I really thought I was at the end. But I guess, I should be grateful for her encouraging words, the fact that she enjoyed the story, the characters, had emotion, etc. And she didn't say, it's a huge pile of shit and needs lots more attention. Looking at the Silver Lining I guess. So, the timing of getting this today and hearing from the bff and that she finished this latest revision tonight, were fate. She helped to talk me off the ledge. As she says, "It's a real damn novel." I'll take that. I've always been fortunate to surround myself with the right people. Those words amongst others, were just what I needed to hear. So, I'll take tonight to lick my wounds a little more, before getting on the horse tomorrow. Sara and Molly (the main characters) will be calling tomorrow, and I need to woman up and answer.
I hope this day found you well. You made it through Monday. Congratulation!
I'll leave you with "Hey Cinderella" by Suzy Bogguss. I told the Ice Cream Club the story of a drunken Jen meeting Suzy after a show and going on about this song. Anyway, they didn't know the song. I can't fault the 21 year old, or the other one who didn't grow up with parents who were disc jockeys. It's another song about growing older Who needs Cinderella anyway?! We're older now but no more the wise. We learned the art of compromise. Sometimes we laugh. Sometimes we cry. And sometimes we just breakdown.
~Jen
I received the latest professional edit on the book this morning. I haven't gone through much of it yet, but I did read her letter (notes). It's really promising in a lot of ways. I felt great through the first page... The second page addressed some stuff I know I need to work on, and I felt fine with that. The third page had some suggestions of what I should add to help tie things together (but I don't know that I agree with all of them...), but more importantly the last paragraph ended with, "I don't think this book is ready for publishing." She explained this is a hot genre right now (who knew?) and you only get one shot with the agents. It needs to be tighter. So, I've been sitting on those words all day. I'll admit, I was a little teary eyed when I read it, but there were no actual tears. The words sting. I really thought I was at the end. But I guess, I should be grateful for her encouraging words, the fact that she enjoyed the story, the characters, had emotion, etc. And she didn't say, it's a huge pile of shit and needs lots more attention. Looking at the Silver Lining I guess. So, the timing of getting this today and hearing from the bff and that she finished this latest revision tonight, were fate. She helped to talk me off the ledge. As she says, "It's a real damn novel." I'll take that. I've always been fortunate to surround myself with the right people. Those words amongst others, were just what I needed to hear. So, I'll take tonight to lick my wounds a little more, before getting on the horse tomorrow. Sara and Molly (the main characters) will be calling tomorrow, and I need to woman up and answer.
I hope this day found you well. You made it through Monday. Congratulation!
I'll leave you with "Hey Cinderella" by Suzy Bogguss. I told the Ice Cream Club the story of a drunken Jen meeting Suzy after a show and going on about this song. Anyway, they didn't know the song. I can't fault the 21 year old, or the other one who didn't grow up with parents who were disc jockeys. It's another song about growing older Who needs Cinderella anyway?! We're older now but no more the wise. We learned the art of compromise. Sometimes we laugh. Sometimes we cry. And sometimes we just breakdown.
~Jen
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