Black clouds swirling
With the move over and a first partial request on my manuscript, my black cloud has lifted. I came to work this morning knowing I wasn't going to have to lug, lift, shove, or pack anything. Plus, Mr. Bigshot Agent liked my query letter enough to request the first 50 pages of the book.
Unfortunately, everyone around me is under their own black cloud.
My oldest sister, because she's worried about keeping her job, about paying off her debts, about her marriage, about her busted up arm.
My middle sister, because she's got my oldest sister living in her basement like a troll. Oh, and she just got diagnosed with stenosis of the cervical spine at age 40. (To go with her Paget's disease, her massively enlarged heart with a leaky valve, and her cancerous but now excised thyroid.)
My husband, because he graduates in May and in this economy, looking for a job is a straight shot to depression.
My mom and dad, because their house still hasn't sold and they want to move so badly. And in this economy...blah blah blah.
It scares me, because if I'm the fucking ray of sunshine in my life, that's a serious problem. I'm Miss Worst Case Scenario. I'm Glass-Half-Empty-And-What's-That-Floating-In-The-Bottom? So when I'm the one saying, "She'll move out. You'll get a job. The house will sell," that's some scary territory.
How about everybody else? How's your new year going?
Comments
Yeah, I kinda know what you mean about being a ray of sunshine and wondering what THAT's all about. Though...I have to say I don't have people in situations like you do. As of now, we are all pretty well set. Thankfully my mom didn't hold off any longer and sold her house almost 2 years ago, purchased her condo outright, etc., etc. I'm concerned for our business though, when things get bad, painting is not a necessity in many places...and before I came here, there were a few very lean years and there was no recession then, no threat of global fuckery. So yeah. I'm a little nervous about the next year or 2. But right now, things are as usual for me and my family, which I am very grateful for.
That's awful about your sisters, but I had to laugh at:
My middle sister, because she's got my oldest sister living in her basement like a troll.
The spine thing sounds awful. I have enough problems with my back, I can't imagine that!!! yikes.
I know! She was having all this pain in her neck and her fingers were tingling, so we thought she probably had a pinched nerve. Uh, yeah, if you consider the spine a nerve. I hadn't even heard of spinal stenosis, but it creeps me out thinking about your vertebrae starting to squeeze off your spine. Eeeek! It's all part of her freaky bone problems.
Gotta say, 2009 is looking better for us than the last few months of 2008, that's for sure! Got two sons working, Daughter looking for work (which she will probably get) and Youngest seeming more settled in himself, though still "hearing the neighbours". Husband is going ice diving on Saturday, and I have £200 to spend on books.
Looking forward to that!
I'm so glad to hear about the agent being responsive, though! *fingers crossed*
I'm a little bummed in general - Israel's being shitty which scares the FUCK out of me, the crappy weather, roommate issues (some of which he doesn't even know about yet), love life bullshit, etc...
11 days til OBAMA. At least there's that.
And YAY-ness for book gift certs, Book.
Glass-Half-Empty-And-What's-That-Floating-In-The-Bottom?
Very nice.
Most excellent to hear the agent wanted to see some of the book!
(yay, and double yay.)
And at least your sister has a name to put to the spinal thing.
Doctors are a lot easier to deal with when they can identify your problem - if it has a name, it exists, and you aren't a crazy psychosomatic lady.
Or you may still be, but this problem at least is real.
Any chance your parents could rent out their place, and move anyway?
It isn't as tidy as selling, but it does move things along.
Glass half-full, half empty thing?
As long as suddenly you don't have the sweetest, friendliest felines in town I wouldn't worry.
It isn't Bizarro World yet.
Mine's about the same as yours, thank you. With the whole town burning down around me and there I am cooking burgers on the grill...
Oh, and don't forget, it's not whether the glass is half full or half empty, but how many parts per million of arsenic are in it...
Fuckin' terrible, so far.