Amateur - Lasse Gjertsen

Saw this over at Earl Picken's blog. Really cool.

Still breathing...

Someone asked for my work to do list. I was hesitant to do that, because it'd just be a repeat of this post, or else it'll be like Cheryl Klein's post here, where the comments upset me. I don't mean to whine, because it's not productive, but I hate feeling like I can't ever get caught up, and I hate feeling like I'm not responding to people quickly enough, or leaving emails go unanswered for weeks.

But...well, since you asked, let me show you this, my schedule from two Thursday's ago:

And then the next day I was out of the office for the SCBWI Intensive Writer's Workshop which I wrote about here. And missing those two days of emails put me so behind in my responses that my inbox got so clogged up that I could barely send an email without getting more email telling me that my inbox was over my memory limit, and to please delete mail, so I try to clean out my email inbox just enough so that I can actually send email. And then last week I was busy putting together two proposals for our acquisition meeting this week, and also found myself in the middle of a big auction for a big book that I want very badly. So I was up to my ears in P&Ls and comparable titles and writing my pitches. And then a minor celebrity was pitching a book and wanted a meeting, so I that took time to prepare for, and then there's the three Spring 2008 picture book manuscripts that I need to edit that should have been transmitted to copyediting last August, and the Spring 2008 novels that also need editing, and the Fall 2007 catalog pages that are circulating, and first-pass and second-pass pages for my Fall 2007 novels, and the proof for my Fall 2007 picture books, and sketches for a Spring 2007 picture book, and final art for another Spring 2007 picture book, and then more emails and emails and emails. And then needing time to read manuscripts for other editors for editorial meeting, and trying to read my own submissions, and then more emails, and phone calls, and meetings meetings meetings. And second-pass pages for a 200+ nonfiction book just landed on my desk today to review. And having to figure out costing issues for same book. And of course every day I have meetings meetings meetings.

Okay, I'll stop now. Seriously, I apologize, I'm feeling much better today after a packed yet relaxing three-day weekend, and I was also finally able to clean my room which has been a disaster zone for weeks. Of course I meant to do a lot of reading over the holidays, but instead only read 3/4 of a novel submission. But I've been reading manuscripts tonight and enjoying it. Oh, to be able to have time to read again. I just booked a week-long vacation to San Francisco for April, and aside from looking forward to seeing all my friends and relatives there, I'm also looking forward to a week of sitting in cafes and just reading for pleasure.

Anyway, so that's what I've been up to. Now back to my reading.

drowning

I just have to say that I've been drowning at work. Weeks pass before I realize it, and I don't accomplish what I've set out to do. So if you've emailed me and haven't received a response, please forgive me. If you really need to get a hold of me, call me--I'm still answering my phone. But I've been extremely tardy at responding to emails, so forgive me, and thank you for your patience. I'll respond eventually, I promise.

hat

This past weekend I went to my friend Heather's apartment party in South Brooklyn, and then shared a car with friends to Williamsburg. The next morning, which was freezing cold, I discovered that I had lost my hat. Below is an actual email exchange with my friends earlier this week. I've pasted the emails chronologically. Email addresses and last names have been deleted, but otherwise this exchange is listed verbatim.


From: Heather
Subject: Re: found!
To:
(left at my house after the party)
8 oz. stainless steel flask
containing vodka (?)
anybody know who's it is?

On 2/6/07, Alvina wrote:
Nope--you didn't by any chance find an off-white winter hat, did you? I think I may have left it in the car. Oh well.

On 2/6/07, Sarah wrote:
um... we found an off-white winter hat in the car we took to williamsburg... and the driver told us to take it...

On 2/6/07, Alexis wrote:
did you call the car service # provided by patrick? maybe alvina left it in the car we took, and then he came back to the same party and you guys got it!

On 2/6/07, Alvina wrote:
hahaha--seriously?!?! I'm pretty sure I was wearing it while we were waiting for the car, and then the next morning I didn't have it, so it must have been left in the car or dropped on the ground...

On 2/6/07, Mariko wrote:
wow! i had a feeling that it was one of our friends'. i was like "oh of course i'd take it. it's one of my friends'" then realized "wait, how could it be?" but the driver insisted so we took it. i even wrote a craigslist ad about it

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/laf/273273825.html

On 2/6/07, heather wrote:
that's awesome.

On 2/6/07, Jessie wrote:
wow. all so...serendipitous.the only person i saw with a flask was claudia...could it be hers?

On 2/6/07, Alvina wrote:
I can't believe you posted that Craigslist ad! It's definitely mine. I just saw Sarah at Maya's birthday drinks and she described it to me.

First you had my scarf, now my hat. You guys are my winter wear lifesavers.

*********************************


Now, when I really think about it, it makes sense. It was the same car service number that was called, and the driver must have guessed that since he picked us up from the same party, it was likely that we knew each other. But still, it seemed rather unlikely that I would ever see that hat again. And it was nice for him to insist that my friends take the hat. Not quite like the cabbie who returned the diamonds left in his cab, but damn close.

Ms. Pacman

As seen on Gothamist:



Love it! But I wonder...where are the Power Pellets?

Tidbit: I'm actually pretty darn good at Ms. Pacman.