Sunday, May 16, 2010

Good News Abounds

First off, let me publicly congratulate Anita for landing an agent. Read about it here. I myself may never get published, but Anita's success means that I might get to see my name in print--on the Acknowledgments page of her book. Of course, now things get interesting for the rest of us. From what I can tell, most writers, upon meeting with success, react in one of three ways.

1. They stay pretty much the same.
2. They start tweeting with well-known authors and dropping the words "my agent" into every other conversation and they just generally piss everyone off with their vainglory.
3. The initial dose of success isn't enough and it isn't long before they start complaining about how their agent can't sell their book or how unfair the publishing word is or how, yeah, they sold their book, but gawd---did you see the cover? And what's up with that release date? And so-and-so got a bigger advance. You know the type.

I'm guessing Anita will be a 1.

More good news: I have now lost 12 pounds. I ran my first 5k last week and yesterday I ran six miles (without stopping. Is that implied?). I hope to lose 10-15 more. I usually need some sort of motivation--the last time I lost a fair amount of weight was the summer of my wedding--but I don't really have a reason this time. I want to be healthier? Eh. I want to look good in a bathing suit? Not possible without major back hair removal. I want to be able to eat terrible food and drink beer all summer? Okay. That'll work.

Something I thought was good news, but actually wasn't: My laptop stopped working and wouldn't turn on. After consulting The Whole of the World's Knowledge, AKA the Internet, I bought a new battery. Popped it in and voila, it worked. For two hours. Then it quit again. This shouldn't have happened because I had the thing plugged in. So the good news is I did some new work on my current project. And the bad news is there is still something wrong with my preferred writing device.

Not good news at all: That oil spill in the Gulf. No one will ever accuse me of being an environmentalist, but Jeebus, that thing is nasty.

11 comments:

Rena Jones said...

I'm guessing Anita will be #1. And I'm sure you will be too! Congrats on the weight loss. That's awesome! Sorry to hear about your computer. Been there, done that, and it sucks. I hope you can get it fixed or replaced. Good luck!

Corey Schwartz said...

Oh, God, I hope I don't fall into category number three? That's an easy trap to get sucked into!

Congrats to Anita!

Kelly Polark said...

I'm so happy for Anita!!
Twelve pounds is awesome! I seriously exercise so I can eat bad food, too. I.can't.stop. (eating obviously. it's easy for me to make an excuse to stop exercising early)

Anita said...

I can't believe you lost twelve pounds. That's too easy to fake. I think we need The Wife to verify it.

I'm glad you didn't put me staying "pretty much the same" as the number two option, because then I'd have to say that I'll be number two. Get it? Hah!

If you keep writing, you will get published. I read a lot. I know these things.

I refuse to follow the oil disaster. It's too much for me.

Jonathon Arntson said...

Wow, I don't know what your motivation is, but you're motivating me to get running again.

And I agree, Anita will always be a #1.

Tina Laurel Lee said...

I second that #1.

And congrats on the weight loss.

The Wife said...

Yes, it's true. He has lost 12 pounds. As a result I'm not speaking to him. Because I've lost 2 pounds. And I try harder.
Congrats, Anita!

Ray Veen said...

Rock the hell on, Anita!

(I still can't comment on your blog because of the comment style thing and the neurotic IT department where I work.)

And Mr. Murphy? Are you implying that there's something wrong with being number two?

I know you think I'm number two.

Anita said...

THE WIFE: Thank you for the verifying. I almost stopped commenting here when he posted his last weight-loss reults. How do men do this?!

Unknown said...

Congrats on the weight loss. Lay off the chocolate milk.

Paul Michael Murphy said...

Had chocolate milk with dinner last night. Down another two pounds today.

You do the math.