Friday, December 11, 2009

Back in the Real World


I daren't keep dwelling on the Lovely Thing that has happened. Even though I've now met Lovely Agent, who is every bit as lovely as I'd imagined and has said lovely things and has even sent me a lovely Christmas card. I'm just too scared of jinxing it all.

My inner reality checker has finally put in an appearance - I'm surprised she left it this long. Agnes I call her (though she prefers "Madam"). Formidable woman with terrible taste in shoes. Uses lots of lacquer to stop her hair doing something unexpected. She's a terrible party-pooper. "There's a long way to go yet Missy, so don't go getting Ideas," she keeps saying, wagging a finger.

I don't like her, but she has a point. Although scooping up teenage-boy-pants and feeding them into the washing machine every day is good for keeping one grounded, I find.

In the meantime I'm trying to focus on novel 2 (when I'm not doing the washing and arguing with Agnes) and putting off the dreaded moment when I have to once again untangle the Christmas tree lights and wrestle them into submission.

Mince pie anyone?

21 comments:

Dumdad said...

I know how you feel: you're thrilled but keep feeling it might be snatched away at the last minute. Normal reaction. Get in touch with your inner zen; or keep singing Que Sera Sera all day long!

Colette McCormick said...

I guess that you feel so good that you're afraid that you're going to wake up and find you've dreamt it all. It's natural and completely understandable.

Voidwalker said...

Sounds like some drama. Umbrella drink might be better for this than mince pie :)

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

Agnes sounds scary. And the next time she says there's still a way to go, just remind her that you've already travelled so much further than most of us.

Love the new profile picture.

XX

Joss Albért said...

Never fear Agnes, she is like an old feared school mistress who in later life is revered as essential to your prowess, success, excesses!

Wonderful news to hear you are a real step closer to something you've been working very hard for! :)

Lane Mathias said...

Mmm yes, mince pie. Haven't actually had one yet.

Dear Agnes should stand back for a bit. It's not every day you have such fab news so enjoy it! Although I can see that scooping up boy pants could be very grounding:-)

Jan Jones said...

Agnes has only got your own good at heart, you know. I mean, nobody ASKS her to keep raining on your parade. It's not easy being constantly on the watch in case sparkly pink cloud-castles break out in your vicinity. She doesn't enjoy it.

You ought to make her a nice, fat-reduced, sugar-reduced mince pie and say thank you humbly.

Chris Stovell said...

Oh, Whoop! Whoop! That's great news! Congratulations.

Lorna F said...

Listen, girl, you keep wallowing in the pleasure of what you've achieved and never mind the helmet-haired voice of sense. You're on an agent's Christmas card list? That matters! Agents don't take you on as an act of charity you know - you've clearly written something she thinks will earn her percentage. What a great time for all this to happen, on the run up to Christmas! So even as you scoop up the boy-pants (and even the boy-socks, shudder ...) keep a big soppy self-satisfied grin on your face.x

Jenny Beattie said...

When I saw Agnes' picture I thought she was your inner librarian! I thought she looked a bit like one of those doctor's receptionists that think they're more important than they are and have forgotten that they're actually there to help you.

I think their hearts are in the right place... they don't always know how to show it.

It's still SO exciting...

Queenie said...

Don't argue with Agnes. Belt her round the head with a cast-iron frying pan. And if that doesn't shut her up, belt her again till it does. You earned the Lovely Thing; it's what you've dreamed of for years; and you have every right to enjoy it.

Jen said...

The Lovely Thing is much louder than Agnes, surely? Can't you stab her in the eye with a cocktail umbrella then mess up her hair? That'd teach her.

Sheila Norton said...

Believe it! Enjoy it! The Lovely Thing has really happened ... and you deserve the pleasure it's bringing you. Tell Agnes to go stuff a turkey! x

Cheryl said...

Darned Agnes but yes I am sure I would be the same. You get your moment to scream from the roof tops soon!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Tell Agnes to butt out and let you enjoy your well deserved success.

Best of luck with wrestling those darn Christmas lights, I've done mine and it was touch and go there for a minute as to who was going to win. I did, of course, but it took some doing.

Anna Scott Graham said...

Pass that mince pie my way... Better yet, lob it at Agnes. :)))

HelenMWalters said...

Tell Agnes she can take a few weeks off!

Amanda said...

Don't listen to Agnes, Karen - just enjoy the moment!! x

Sherri said...

Sod the real world. The one with the lovely agent in is much nicer. Oh, hang on, that IS the real world! And you made it happen so you flipping well enjoy it, missus!

There are so many brown envelope days, you have to make the most of the other kind when they happen.

Fionnuala said...

Ah Karen believe grl, believe!
Although I do also have my own equivalent of Agnes - she's called Lucy Fir. She's a little devil...

Karen said...

dumdad - I do need to contact my inner zen, but I think she's done a runner! Que Sera Sera it is then :o)

colette - That's exactly it - things like this happen so rarely!

voidwalker - I think you're right - now where's that umbrella? :o)

suzanne - Agnes IS scary (especially those shoes) and thanks for mentioning the photo :o))

joss - Ooh I like the sound of that - and thank you very much :o)

lane - Just about ALL of the rest of my life is quite grounding actually! I must hide the mince pies now, it's not even Christmas yet :o)

jan jones - I hadn't even thought of it that way, but you could be right. She's not having a mince pie though. They're mine ... :o)

chrish - Thank you! And to you too :o))

lorna f - "Helmet-haired voice of sense." I love it :o) And yes I'm still grinning, though less frequently as I'm now starting to panic about lack of Christmas shopping !!

jj beattie - I'd like to think she's secretly pleased deep down, but I think she's actually a bit of a sadist :o)

queenie - Ooh, I've got a frying pan that would do the job nicely! Thank you :o))

sprialskies - You lot are so funny - and mean. I'm starting to feel a bit sorry for Agnes. Actually I'm not. Where's that cocktail umbrella :o)

olivia ryan - Thank you - although I think she'd enjoy doing that rather too much :o)

lilyS - I do hope so - it's starting to feel even more dream-like now!

debs - Amazingly the tree lights weren't too bad this year - I think I scared them last time :o)

anna - I don't want to waste a decent mince pie on her to be honest - but I'll definitely lob you one :o))

helenmhunt - She's keeping a low profile at the moment - I think you've all scared her off a bit :o)

amanda - I'll try I really will - it just feels so dreamlike :o)

bernadette - You're quite right - it just because it happens so rarely it's hard to believe, but I'm getting there :o)

fionnuala - Lucy Fir! Very good :o) Sounds like she and Agnes should get together, it might take their minds off other people's business!