I spent the last few evenings with Liz as she recovers from heart surgery, and it’s a huge relief to report that she’s doing great.

Given the kind of surgery she had–mitral valve repair–her recovery is going about as well as possibly could have been expected. Even just Liz’s energy level yesterday was significantly better than just the 24 hours before that.

One of the nicest parts of Liz’s recovery has been the number of people who have either called or emailed checking up on Liz, I spent the last few evenings with Liz as she recovers from heart surgery, and it’s a huge relief to report that she’s doing great.

Given the kind of surgery she had–mitral valve repair–her recovery is going about as well as possibly could have been expected. Even just Liz’s energy level yesterday was significantly better than just the 24 hours before that.

One of the nicest parts of Liz’s recovery has been the number of people who have either called or emailed checking up on Liz, or who have come by to visit her in the hospital (she’s at Columbia Presbyterian in NYC). Already she’s loaded up with flowers, but I think more importantly to her are the stacks of magazines she’s been given (thanks, ladies!), a few nice cards, and a box of tasty cupcakes (Anna, you rock!).

Hospitals, of course, are strange places, and here are just a few random thoughts and observations:

* Roommates: the first night Liz was brought to what’s called a "step-down" room after being in the ICU, her bed was directly opposite an older woman who had been there a few nights. Among other things, the woman repeatedly asked to know what time it was (about every 10 minutes) and apologized for burping and farting (about every 2 minutes).

Hey, at least she apologized.

* Parking: at the front of the hospital there’s actually a valet parking service.

The rate for the first half hour: $12

The rate for the first full hour: $13

I guess it’s that extra $1 that’s helping them find a cure for something important. I’ll get back to you when I figure out what that is.

* Drilling: maybe it’s just me, but was it absolutely necessary to have the repair men drilling new monitor wall brackets directly next to my wife when she was just 24 hours removed from MAJOR $%$#@! HEART SURGERY?!!

Eh, you know me. Always gotta bitch about something.

* Sick people: so naturally, while I was somewhat nervous that maybe it wasn’t so great for me to be visiting the hospital as I recovered from a violent case of food poisoning (I didn’t want to make anybody worse, especially Liz), I somehow forgot that the hospital is basically just one giant bubble of germs. And now I have a cold.

Good thing I was nervous about getting [i]other [/i]people sick.

* PB & J: the hospital food is so bad Liz has asked me to bring her a few PB & J sandwiches.

It’s at least one thing I never understood about hospitals. If someone is actually sick or injured badly enough that they need to be hospitalized, shouldn’t nutrition be, you know, like, important?

But then, I never went to med school, so what the hell do I know?

Post edited by: rcolchamiro, at: 2007/01/13 09:06

Post edited by: rcolchamiro, at: 2007/01/13 12:15

Post edited by: rcolchamiro, at: 2007/01/14 10:32

My wife Liz had major surgery today–heart surgery, in fact–and is a-okay. It’s bizarre to find out–at 35–that you need an operation to correct a leaky heart valve, but that’s just what happened. She did really well with the surgery, and is starting to recover.

The last few weeks, especially, have been particularly strange, because it seemed like everybody we knew handled the news far worse than we did. I was pretty calm about the whole thing, I think in large part because Liz was so calMy wife Liz had major surgery today–heart surgery, in fact–and is a-okay. It’s bizarre to find out–at 35–that you need an operation to correct a leaky heart valve, but that’s just what happened. She did really well with the surgery, and is starting to recover.

The last few weeks, especially, have been particularly strange, because it seemed like everybody we knew handled the news far worse than we did. I was pretty calm about the whole thing, I think in large part because Liz was so calm. She was such a champ. She had every reason to be freaking out, and a few off moments aside, she was pretty cool about it, even this morning as she gowned up for the surgery.

The doctor who did the procedure, Craig Smith, was the guy who operated on Bill Clinton a few years back, so my attitude has been, if the secret service cleared this guy to stick a knife in the president, then that’s pretty okay by me.

And he lived up to his billing.

I’m definitely relieved, and can’t wait to get Liz back home. But I especially want to thank everybody who’s sent all the warm wishes and support. We both really appreciate it. It helped a lot.

Just a short one here …

Got myself a little case of food poisoning today. Been about 8 hours so far with multiple needs for relief.

Warning of the day: stay away from the rib sandwich at Subway.

Not good.Just a short one here …

Got myself a little case of food poisoning today. Been about 8 hours so far with multiple needs for relief.

Warning of the day: stay away from the rib sandwich at Subway.

Not good.

I’m now starting to get some responses to my agents query blitzkrieg, coming in in drips and drabs. Out of the 35 letters I sent out, I got two thanks, but no thanks. I got two that said, we’re just too busy for new clients blah, blah, blah, and one agent who liked the premise of FINDERS KEEPERS and asked me to submit pages, which I did.

Still waiting to hear back on that one.

But also I got two envelopes returned because I managed to address them incorrectly. Yeah, yeah. I know, I knI’m now starting to get some responses to my agents query blitzkrieg, coming in in drips and drabs. Out of the 35 letters I sent out, I got two thanks, but no thanks. I got two that said, we’re just too busy for new clients blah, blah, blah, and one agent who liked the premise of FINDERS KEEPERS and asked me to submit pages, which I did.

Still waiting to hear back on that one.

But also I got two envelopes returned because I managed to address them incorrectly. Yeah, yeah. I know, I know. Good job.

Oh well. I’ll just send them back out with the right address. (I hope)

And my favorite letter came back today. Without naming the agency, I got a letter today that said the agency has changed direction, and that for the foreseeable future, it will consider representation only for manuscripts (non fiction and fiction) about … animals.

This includes:

companion animals/pets

feral animals

working and service animals

domestic and farm animals

laboratory animals

caged animals

wild animals

Moreover, they are looking for manuscripts that "express ideas and tell stories powerful enough to change people’s views about animals …"

Well, looks like this one’s out.

Now where’s that darn cat …

One of the real traps of writing is that the revision stage can literally last forever, if you let it. There’s always some phrase that could be just a little bit better, always some piece that doesn’t really need to be there, or, as if often the case, some section that needs just a little more explanation or clarification.

It happened to me yet again last night.

My wife, Liz, finished reading the most current draft of my manuscript. She really liked it overall, but she had a few questOne of the real traps of writing is that the revision stage can literally last forever, if you let it. There’s always some phrase that could be just a little bit better, always some piece that doesn’t really need to be there, or, as if often the case, some section that needs just a little more explanation or clarification.

It happened to me yet again last night.

My wife, Liz, finished reading the most current draft of my manuscript. She really liked it overall, but she had a few questions. Some of them I had actually answered the draft she read, but she had simply forgotten, but some others … well, they needed a little something.

Which is such a killer. Forgive the overuse of the quote, but when it comes to this book, it’s like every time I’m out, they pull me back in.

And the thing is, her question was right on the money. It involved a section toward the end that really did need just a little more explanation. It didn’t take long to update, so it wasn’t any trouble, it’s just that I’D FINALLY LOVE TO BE DONE FOR GOOD!

And yet, I don’t want any loose threads or unexplained sections floating around out there. I’m not going to rewrite any turns of phrase or passages that I look back at and think they could be better. At this point, what’s there is there. But when it comes to logic lines or plot, if something’s not quite right, or just doesn’t add up, then I’ll go back and tweak it.

You always think you’re done, but the truth is there’s always something that could be fixed and updated. It’s just a matter of making a decision to be done, and living with it. If you revise forever, that’s all you ever do.

Eventually, it’s just time to move on.

I’d love to say I’m absolutely done at this point–I don’t have any plans to make any more revisions–but if that’s what the manuscript needs, then that’s what I’ll do. It won’t stop me from sending it out to get published, but I’ll tweak if necessary.

Hopefully, I won’t need to tweak for much longer.

Ten years ago I worked in a small publishing company in the Flatiron District of New York City, where a guy in my department said that he hated food. He said food was a nuisance, and he wished he could do without it.

Naturally, I rolled my eyes and made faces. He was being bizarre and ridiculous, and I told him so. I mean, how could you not like food?

Well, now I?m getting those very same looks because I?ve gotten to the point where I can?t stand food either. Now, before you join theTen years ago I worked in a small publishing company in the Flatiron District of New York City, where a guy in my department said that he hated food. He said food was a nuisance, and he wished he could do without it.

Naturally, I rolled my eyes and made faces. He was being bizarre and ridiculous, and I told him so. I mean, how could you not like food?

Well, now I?m getting those very same looks because I?ve gotten to the point where I can?t stand food either. Now, before you join the fray and start rolling your eyes at me?like my wife and dad did just last night?at least hear me out first.

I love a good meal, I just can?t stand having to deal with food.

Think about how much food we put into our bodies, and why. Even if you go by the standard pace of three meals a day?breakfast, lunch and dinner?and don?t count snacks of any kind, that equates to 21 meals a week or 1,092 meals a year, which comes to just under 11,000 meals in a decade. And if you live to be 85, that?s pushing 90,000 meals in a lifetime.

90,000!

There?s only so many turkey sandwiches I can eat before I can?t stand the site of one. Or ham and cheese. Or PB and J. Or tuna fish. Or whatever.

Sure, I?ve got my favorites?if only pizza and bacon cheeseburgers helped me lose weight?but just having to [i]think[/i] about food, about having to make a decision about what to eat, is a pain in my you know what.

Food is fuel. Food keeps our engines running. And a few hours after we eat we have to refuel. And again. And then again, again and again. Imagine if you had to go the gas station three times a day [i]every … single … day [/i]in order to keep you car running. I mean, every day. Wouldn?t that annoy you to no end? Wouldn?t you just get sick of having to even think about it?

If it was up to me we would be able to swallow a pill?gulp?that would give us all the fuel and nutrition we need for the day. And on those occasions when I was in the mood for something tasty, I?d eat a meal the old fashion way. I would pick out something scrumptious to enjoy?pure pleasure. Otherwise, I?d gladly settle for the gulp.

Yeah yeah, I know, I know. Having to eat regularly sounds like a strange thing to gripe about. There are plenty of people in the world who would kill just to be able to eat three meals a day. So it?s not like I don?t recognize that my problem isn?t really a problem.

When I really think about it, I?m not annoyed with the actual food, but having to [i]deal[/i] with food. To go shopping. To prepare the meals. To put mental energy into picking between mayo or mustard. To think today about what I need to eat tomorrow. We?re all so overworked and maxed out, that making time to prepare meals?to even think about preparing meals?has become an exhaustive annoyance.

Something ain?t right here. I gotta get my head straight on this one, because by my calculations, I?ve got a whole lotta meals ahead of me. And unless somebody?s holding out, there?s still no pill for that.

When I came home from work today I expected Alex (my cat) to peak his head up from the couch, where he spends most days, look at me for a minute, and then jump down, stroll over, and demand some immediate attention. He’s been on his own all day, after all, so naturally his welcome should come before I get a chance to take of my jacket.

Fair enough.

But there was no Alex. He wasn’t on the couch. He wasn’t in the kitchen. He wasn’t on my bed and he wasn’t in the second bedroom. He wasWhen I came home from work today I expected Alex (my cat) to peak his head up from the couch, where he spends most days, look at me for a minute, and then jump down, stroll over, and demand some immediate attention. He’s been on his own all day, after all, so naturally his welcome should come before I get a chance to take of my jacket.

Fair enough.

But there was no Alex. He wasn’t on the couch. He wasn’t in the kitchen. He wasn’t on my bed and he wasn’t in the second bedroom. He wasn’t under the dining room table, he wasn’t in any of the closets and he wasn’t chilling out behind the couch.

I used to get a little freaked out when I couldn’t find him, thinking that somehow he’d escaped and would either be gone for good, mangled by some crazy accident, or God knows what. But I’ve mellowed over the years, knowing that he always turns up [i]someplace[/i].

Which he did. Alex was lying on the bath mat in the bathroom, just kinda lying flat. Weird for him? Sort of. But what weirded me most was that he just stayed there when I found him. I’d been calling him during my search, and he hadn’t come over, like he usually does.

So I let him be a minute, and after I changed clothes, found him not in the bathroom, but now on the hallway mat by the front door. Again, he didn’t respond to me. More curious. So I picked him up and gave him some attention, but he didn’t purr. Something was wrong. I let him down on the couch and got myself a drink, but when I saw him now by the bedroom, I got a fright.

A real fright.

He was walking … make that limping … and his left paw was drawn up near his chin. So of course my heart starts thumping away, thinking he somehow broke his leg. Cats get into all sorts of trouble, so who knows.

That’s why he wasn’t so happy when I came home. He was in pain. He was scared.

And when a cat breaks its leg, well, I don’t know if that’s something they can recover from, or if it’s like a horse, and they have to put it down. So in a nanosecond I’m thinking the worst.

So I picked him up to comfort him. And that’s when I saw it.

His paw was caught in his collar! That’s why his paw was like that, pulled up by his neck. Alex the cat found a little trouble.

Good gravy!

Post edited by: rcolchamiro, at: 2007/01/03 19:02

After a week or so of sleeping long and sleeping late, I was back at it this morning, up at 5 am to get myself to the gym. It was a little rough, no joke, but I got myself going and was downstairs by about 5:50 am.

Even though I’m usually a little groggy first thing, I take comfort in that at least it’s alone time. Nobody’s down there at that hour but me.

But today.

Looks like the new years resolutions are at it already. When I hit the gym there were already two people down there-After a week or so of sleeping long and sleeping late, I was back at it this morning, up at 5 am to get myself to the gym. It was a little rough, no joke, but I got myself going and was downstairs by about 5:50 am.

Even though I’m usually a little groggy first thing, I take comfort in that at least it’s alone time. Nobody’s down there at that hour but me.

But today.

Looks like the new years resolutions are at it already. When I hit the gym there were already two people down there–with the TV on loud (I’m an iPod guy)–doing their thing. And I admit, it kinda bugged me. I mean, good for them for getting their exercises on, but I like having the gym to myself. I didn’t [i]want[/i] to hear the TV. I didn’t [i]want [/i]to share.

Selfish? Maybe. But I’ve gotten so used to having the gym to myself that I wasn’t ready for change. But it’s a new year with a new vibe. Will this last? Time will tell. I won’t be surprised if today is the last I see of them at that hour. It is the time for resolutions, after all, so maybe it’s just some early January gung ho that will burn itself out. Or maybe it’ll last.

Ah … new year, new resolutions.

It’s Jan. 2, 2007. What will the year bring?

Hi Gang,

Just wanted to take a few minutes and wish everybody a happy and healthy new year. For Liz and I, 2006 was a bizarre year indeed. Some of it was good, some of it was less fun, but it was a strange one for sure.

I’ve got good vibes flowing for 2007, so consider this my official sending of those good vibes to you …

While we’re talking about New Years, it’s really one of the toughest holidays to nail down. Tradition holds that you do something grand on New Year’s Eve–anHi Gang,

Just wanted to take a few minutes and wish everybody a happy and healthy new year. For Liz and I, 2006 was a bizarre year indeed. Some of it was good, some of it was less fun, but it was a strange one for sure.

I’ve got good vibes flowing for 2007, so consider this my official sending of those good vibes to you …

While we’re talking about New Years, it’s really one of the toughest holidays to nail down. Tradition holds that you do something grand on New Year’s Eve–and I have. Been to parties, thrown parties. Liz and I actually had plans to go to a murder mystery party somewhere outside of Philly, which I was really psyched for, but truth is … we’re wiped. So we decided to just stay in and take easy … and do some laundry!

No joke.

Is that lame? Ah, who knows. But we’ll be kicking back tonight, order in some take out and curl up on the couch to watch the ball drop. Sometimes that’s the best kind of New Years there is.

But no matter what you’re doing tonight, enjoy! One year ends, another begins.

Looking forward to 2007. It’s gonna be a great one!

Happy New Year’s everybody!

Russ

This has been a productive week search-wise. I sent out about a dozen query letters to agents, so we’ll see what happens. More interesting to me, however, has been the evolution of my own process.

Like a lot of writers who are looking for an agent, I got myself worked up into a frenzy … at the beginning. Trying to land an agent can be like dating or job hunting. Because you want something that someone else has to offer you, they’ve kinda got you by the short hairs.

I’ve been to writThis has been a productive week search-wise. I sent out about a dozen query letters to agents, so we’ll see what happens. More interesting to me, however, has been the evolution of my own process.

Like a lot of writers who are looking for an agent, I got myself worked up into a frenzy … at the beginning. Trying to land an agent can be like dating or job hunting. Because you want something that someone else has to offer you, they’ve kinda got you by the short hairs.

I’ve been to writers conferences and read books and articles about landing an agent, and they all tell you different things. Half the agents say to write a query letter that gets right to the point. Something like, I’ve recently completed a 100,000-word murder mystery about a 10-year-old boy accused of accidentally killing his sister while eating a fruit roll-up.

The other half say, don’t write a standard query letter. Wow me. Surprise me. Dazzle me. Be different.

So what’s the right way to go?

And then you hear and read over and over about your query letters needing to be "perfect." They normally mean, no spelling mistakes and such, but the word "perfect" gets thrown around an awful lot, like there’s such a thing as perfection.

Like I said, like many writers looking for an agent I got myself all worked up and stressed out, until I finally just said, you know what. I’m going to do my best, adjust my letters as much as I can to the style of each agent, and then not worry about it. One of these days I’ll land with the right person, and for anyone who’s isn’t interested in my work because they didn’t like a phrase in my cover letter, then I probably don’t want that person in my life anyhow.

One agent I met was actually very cool. I liked his attitude. He said, I’d rather have a great story that’s written only okay, then to have an only okay story that’s written really well. You’re writing doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has pull me in.

I’m not sure how many agents are like him. A lot? A few? Time will tell. Either way, I’m sure there are plenty of agents who will want to represent me once they see my work, and as long as I stick with it without driving myself crazy, I’ll be just fine.