dogs, parties, manuscripts and to-do lists.

Just got back from the emergency vets again. This time Sano started limping, which he occasionally does, but this time it was worse than ever. It reminded me immediately of when Trisky started limping, same leg and everything.

Well, he's on meds and the Dr. (the same one who treated Trisky, she is excellent,) said she thinks he's probably got some lasting damage from the pit bull attack a few years ago that he will always have. He must have injured it again (I'm sure I saw him twist it yesterday, but there's hardly a day that goes by when he doesn't fall or twist his ankle or bang his paw on something--he plays so rough,) and she thinks it will probably be a life-long thing with him injuring it every once in a while.

Yay.

In better news, I finished my manuscript (again, with some changes) and this time I'm sending it right out, no query letter (they don't want queries; they want unsolicited manuscripts.) I have to write a cover letter though, and I've yet to find a good resource that tells me just what is the difference between a good query letter and a good cover letter. Also, they advise you to send a postcard that they send back to you once your ms. is logged in their database, to make sure they got it. But, I don't know what kind of postcard and that sounds like one of those little details that will get you automatically rejected. I mean seriously, wtf kind of postcard do I send? I'm sure they don't sell "we got your ms., thanks" postcards specifically for this purpose.

>_<

This Saturday is Raq's birthday party. I had told her once before about The Pillow Book and that she reminded me of the young empress Teishi, even as I reminded myself sometimes of Sei Shonagon. She said she wanted to read the book, but she couldn't find it anywhere, so it is one of my gifts to her. This is the message I put in the card to go with it:

"This is the book I was telling you about, with the character who reminds me of you--although she is less a character than an historical figure: the Empress Teishi of Heian Japan. She was a young Empress, only in her teens, yet everyone in her court still aspired to her grace and wisdom.

The writer of The Pillow Book is Teishi's attendant Sei Shonagon: a worldly, sarcastic, somewhat snobby, somewhat selfish 30-something who still likes to tell jokes and chase boys, but nevertheless is a great writer and very much admired the younger empress. The two form a friendship in their social circle of the court, although it is usually Sei, who is supposed to be 'older and wiser,' who seems to learn from Teishi.

Interwoven in the true story are idle lists, observations, poetry, jokes, rants etc. It is sometimes hard to follow since the pages were discovered out of order, with no dates on them.

It was written just over a thousand years ago, and what is startling is how little has changed throughout the years and cultures. Many of the same societal norms still exist today, as well as the same frustrations, loves, arguments, observations--and of course, the same kinds of friendships.

Otanjo-bi omedetou and Arigatou!

Jules"


That seems pretty nice, right? :)


( The D&D quiz. Apparently I am good, but bound by no laws. Go, me! )

I need to dye my hair. And get it cut. And get a postcard and write a cover letter and send out the ms. and go to Japan and go to school and be a teacher and have a baby. Oh, and I need to remember to pick up more toothpaste, too.

dogs, parties, manuscripts and to-do lists.

Just got back from the emergency vets again. This time Sano started limping, which he occasionally does, but this time it was worse than ever. It reminded me immediately of when Trisky started limping, same leg and everything.

Well, he's on meds and the Dr. (the same one who treated Trisky, she is excellent,) said she thinks he's probably got some lasting damage from the pit bull attack a few years ago that he will always have. He must have injured it again (I'm sure I saw him twist it yesterday, but there's hardly a day that goes by when he doesn't fall or twist his ankle or bang his paw on something--he plays so rough,) and she thinks it will probably be a life-long thing with him injuring it every once in a while.

Yay.

In better news, I finished my manuscript (again, with some changes) and this time I'm sending it right out, no query letter (they don't want queries; they want unsolicited manuscripts.) I have to write a cover letter though, and I've yet to find a good resource that tells me just what is the difference between a good query letter and a good cover letter. Also, they advise you to send a postcard that they send back to you once your ms. is logged in their database, to make sure they got it. But, I don't know what kind of postcard and that sounds like one of those little details that will get you automatically rejected. I mean seriously, wtf kind of postcard do I send? I'm sure they don't sell "we got your ms., thanks" postcards specifically for this purpose.

>_<

This Saturday is Raq's birthday party. I had told her once before about The Pillow Book and that she reminded me of the young empress Teishi, even as I reminded myself sometimes of Sei Shonagon. She said she wanted to read the book, but she couldn't find it anywhere, so it is one of my gifts to her. This is the message I put in the card to go with it:

"This is the book I was telling you about, with the character who reminds me of you--although she is less a character than an historical figure: the Empress Teishi of Heian Japan. She was a young Empress, only in her teens, yet everyone in her court still aspired to her grace and wisdom.

The writer of The Pillow Book is Teishi's attendant Sei Shonagon: a worldly, sarcastic, somewhat snobby, somewhat selfish 30-something who still likes to tell jokes and chase boys, but nevertheless is a great writer and very much admired the younger empress. The two form a friendship in their social circle of the court, although it is usually Sei, who is supposed to be 'older and wiser,' who seems to learn from Teishi.

Interwoven in the true story are idle lists, observations, poetry, jokes, rants etc. It is sometimes hard to follow since the pages were discovered out of order, with no dates on them.

It was written just over a thousand years ago, and what is startling is how little has changed throughout the years and cultures. Many of the same societal norms still exist today, as well as the same frustrations, loves, arguments, observations--and of course, the same kinds of friendships.

Otanjo-bi omedetou and Arigatou!

Jules"


That seems pretty nice, right? :)


( The D&D quiz. Apparently I am good, but bound by no laws. Go, me! )

I need to dye my hair. And get it cut. And get a postcard and write a cover letter and send out the ms. and go to Japan and go to school and be a teacher and have a baby. Oh, and I need to remember to pick up more toothpaste, too.