This weekend, I learned:

1. I need to be alone for a certain amount of time every day, or I start to freak out.

2. I can do a workshop in front of people without turning into a sweat machine.

3. I like wine.

4. Some people get way more obnoxious than me when liking wine.

5. New England Clam Chowder kicks Manhattan Clam Chowder’s ass.

6. My P-I-C, Kwana, totally has my back all the time (and she’s got pix of our weekend here!)

7. The Delightful Phone Friend is the best ever. I never get tired of hanging with her.

8. I can gain five pounds in three days. Who knew?

9. Black is a good color for me.

10. Free books still make me giddy.

11. I have a platonic crush on Loretta Chase.

12. Today, there is not enough coffee in the world. Carry on.

Of what I hate:

People who take the time and effort to make recommendation lists on Amazon, then say things like “really good,” “sexy novel,” or “Magical. I couldn’t put it down.”

How, exactly, Ms. List-Maker, do you think you’re actually adding to anybody’s life or reading list with those vague phrases? Incredibly unhelpful. I regret clicking through to your stupid list, never mind that some of you have the SAME DAMN AUTHOR listed many times over in the same list. If I wanted that kind of list, I would check out an author’s backlist.

Not helpful, I repeat; even Carla Kelly and Loretta Chase have written duds in their day.

Okay, so this might be the most inane one I’ve seen thus far: “As soon as I started this, I couldn’t stop till I was done.”

Saturday. The day the Seven Year-Old SPRINGS out of bed and comes and taps on my face right around seven o’clock in the morning. During the week? I have to wake him up, and then he sobs quietly about going to school.

Luckily, there’s coffee.

I haven’t gotten any more rejections, and got a half-good response (read some, looking forward to reading more) from another editor, which is good. I am hoping the radio silence means people are running around their publishing offices clutching my ms. saying ‘We have GOT to get this, read it ASAP and let me know when I can make the offer!’. Who said I wasn’t optimistic?!?

Or they’re too busy rushing to the paper shredder to email my agent and let her know never to darken their door with such trash again.

Meanwhile, I am officially more than halfway done with Road to Passion, have started Loretta Chase (as off-line reading), am still loving Annie Dean’s book (as on-line reading), and am seeing Suisan this weekend. The weather, today at least, is supposed to be awesome, which is very exciting to someone as shallow as me. And did I mention I went to Book-Off and got ten books for twelve dollars? Not that I needed new books (we’re moving in a few months, we need less stuff, not more), but they were such a good deal, I couldn’t resist.

So yeah, life is good. Which is weird, since normally my brain is fussing about all this not-good stuff. The nice lady on 33rd St. says I have to figure out what to fill my brain with if I’m not being neurotic all the time, since it’ll leave a gap when I’m worrying less. Good thing that won’t be happening for awhile. Things are good, but not that good.

Megan

The Risky Regencies have an interview with Loretta Chase posted today.

Me, I got nothin’. I did have the Most Amazing Meal Ever last night, but since a) I already ate it b) it was at a Brooklyn restaurant and c) reading about a great meal someone ate is probably like trying to describe what makes someone beautiful (i.e. fruitless and pale), I won’t bother. Let me just say: ricotta and truffle ravioli in butter. Oh, and dandelion greens with pancetta. So if when I complain about not losing weight, remind me about the butter. And the chocolate ice cream with hazelnuts.

Back to tofu and green beans today.