Writing and Snacks - Did someone say meat?

Did someone say meat?

Feb. 5th, 2008 at 8:25 PM

I got a ton of Starbucks gift cards from family for Christmas and my birthday, and since I like free drinks, I've been doing most of my coffee joint writing at Starbucks. The only drawback (for me) is that Starbucks doesn't really inspire me to take coffee/computer pics to document my writing progress. But this morning I found myself at a place in University Heights, and I remembered that taking pictures of my coffee and computer is one of the things I do, so that's what I did.

I'm not so sure about the coffee joint. I think I overheard the barista making fun of my drink (an Americano). If I want snotty comments from anyone, I'll call my dad.

I'll be seeing my parents on Friday to help them with errands. If the subject of my book comes up and Dad's first question is how much money I'm making, I might accidentally leave him at the store. I know that sounds mean, but it's not like he's never done it to me. It's like, dude, if you take a four-year-old to the bookstore, it's also your responsibility to bring him home. The same goes for the supermarket eight years later. Although I guess I should have known better than to wander off to stare at raw meat.

Sorry for the ramble. I think I'm tired. I learned the first two moves of Meteor Fist at kung fu tonight. Yeah, only two moves, but I gave 'em all I had.

Comments

( Leave a comment )

jamiam wrote:

Feb. 6th, 2008 05:39 am (UTC)

Who makes fun of an americano? It's like drip coffee, but guaranteed not to suck.

Link | Reply | Thread

gregvaneekhout wrote:

Feb. 6th, 2008 05:41 am (UTC)

Yes, *thank* you.

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

tim_pratt wrote:

Feb. 6th, 2008 06:06 am (UTC)

*My* first question was how much money you're making!

Link | Reply | Thread

gregvaneekhout wrote:

Feb. 6th, 2008 06:31 am (UTC)

Yes, but you didn't follow it up with an intimation that maybe I should be looking for a full-time job with dental.

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

orogeny wrote:

Feb. 6th, 2008 09:18 am (UTC)

I like your cup picture.

I can't believe the barista was making fun of one of her own products. Bad barista! Bad, bad barista!

Link | Reply | Thread

stephanieburgis wrote:

Feb. 6th, 2008 09:23 am (UTC)

When I sold my first post-Clarion story, to Flytrap 2, I called up my parents in great excitement. My mom's first question: "How much are you being paid?" I said, "Ummm...10 dollars." She said, "Oh." Pause. "Well, is it going to sell a ton of copies and be really good publicity?" I said, "Um...well, that would be great, but it's actually a 'zine, so it's not really going to be at Barnes & Noble or anything..." And she said, "Oh." And then, after a much longer pause, she said, "Well...congratulations. That's great, I guess." And I said, "Yeah." And then I hung up and buried my head under the covers.

Parents sometimes just aren't the right audience for writing news.

Link | Reply | Thread

bogwitch64 wrote:

Feb. 6th, 2008 02:25 pm (UTC)

(standing in for stephanieburgis' mom)
"Hi, mom! My story sold to Flytrap 2!"
"Oh, sweetheart! That's wonderful! I hope they are giving you the thousands of dollars that story deserves!"
"Well, no, mom. It doesn't really work that way. It's a zine. They don't pay much."
"Who cares what they pay, anyway? It's not about the money. You're being published! I'm so proud. Congratulations, honey. Now let me get off the phone so I can go look Flytrap 2 up on the computer and send it to all my friends. I can't wait to see my baby's name on that screen!"
And then stephanieburgis hung up the phone, smiled at her mother's enthusiasm and went back to the computer to bang out another killer story.
Then end.
(I don't know you but hugs anyway.)

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

stephanieburgis wrote:

Feb. 6th, 2008 02:41 pm (UTC)

Thank you! :) Luckily, I've sold more stories since then, and my mom has reacted in all the right ways every other time - I think that first one was a learning experience for both of us. That's the real problem, isn't it - we know what we need to hear from our parents in those situations (exactly what you wrote) but they can't always read the pre-written dialogues in our head to know what the right thing to say is...sigh. Maybe we need to give them handouts!

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

bogwitch64 wrote:

Feb. 6th, 2008 02:52 pm (UTC)

I'm glad your mom learned from that first 'lesson.' I bet she felt bad about it later on. We can't help what our first reactions are, really--but we can make second reactions a bit better, yes?

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

gregvaneekhout wrote:

Feb. 6th, 2008 04:35 pm (UTC)

I think people who are underwhelmed by our writing triumphs should try to get something published just once to see how hard it is, or conversely to see how rewarding it is when it happens at all.

In the case of my dad, I long ago disentangled my self-esteem from his security-driven value system, so his reactions to my writing news are just sort of annoying. Love the old guy, but this is a part of my life that he just doesn't get.

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

dustchick wrote:

Feb. 6th, 2008 05:05 pm (UTC)

My mom has a whole shelf of your work! Of course, she thought "Will You Be An Astronaut?" was cute, so I'm not that sure that she gets it. ;)

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

(Anonymous) wrote:

Feb. 6th, 2008 02:26 pm (UTC)

Michael van Eekhout

Bro ... you forgot Sears ... he left you at Sears in Santa Monica when you were 6 or 7.

So, now that you're a big time novelist, you don't have work? :)

Link | Reply | Thread

gregvaneekhout wrote:

Feb. 6th, 2008 04:36 pm (UTC)

Re: Michael van Eekhout

Hm, I don't remember the Sears incident. I must have been okay with being left behind that time.

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

(Anonymous) wrote:

Feb. 6th, 2008 04:44 pm (UTC)

Re: Michael van Eekhout

I remember you being pretty pissed at the time ... you were in the kids clothing section demonstrating your unhappiness to a sales lady in your usual manner ... you were scowling impressively when we found you ... we almost made it out to the car (the '66 Valiant) before Dad turned around!

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

gregvaneekhout wrote:

Feb. 6th, 2008 04:47 pm (UTC)

Re: Michael van Eekhout

Oh, okay, I do remember that. I think I was younger, maybe four or five (I know this because I remember the jacket I was wearing).

This one was kind of my fault for becoming distracted by the three-way mirror.

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

bogwitch64 wrote:

Feb. 6th, 2008 02:28 pm (UTC)

We were at a fair on the green in town. My dad wanted to take my youngest son, then four, ahead to see something or another. I said, "Are you sure you want to?" He said yes, of course. I did the mom thing and said, "Make sure you watch him!" and off they went.

When I saw my dad half an hour later, he was alone.
"Where's Chris?"
"Chris?"
"You took Chris, dad. Where is he?"
Blank stare.
Thankfully, my four year old was more savvy than my dad was. He was following close behind.

Link | Reply | Thread