The First Review of My Novel

As my next residency approaches, I've submitted a couple of chapters of my novel for my fellow classmates to workshop.

The other day I got a really nice compliment on it from Brooke, who writes the blog Books Distilled.

(By the way if you read books at all you should be reading her blog.)

The interesting part about it was, she complemented it on Twitter. Holy shit! This is essentially the first review of my novel! And it was positive!

The only problem is, it can only go downhill from here. Oh, well I will savor this.

Two In One Night

I've been to birthday parties before. One thing I've never been to, though, is a party that is for one person's birthday until midnight, and then after midnight is for another person's birthday.

That is, until last night/this morning.

It was a very interesting and fun time, hopping from one bar to another in Worcester (see, Worcester, I told you I'd be back at some point)., and then going back to one of the birthday recipients' houses for some goofing off.

That said, two birthdays in one night is pretty exhausting. Now that I'm back home, it's time for bed.

Writer's Group

June was a long month. I searched long and hard for a new place to live. I didn't do much writing. I had to put off reading my MFA classmates' writing samples for the upcoming residency. The Bruins won the Stanley Cup, and while that's most certainly a beautiful thing, and much more fun than moving, it was nonetheless emotionally exhausting and took a lot out of me.

Last night for the first time in a month I attended one of my writers' groups. It was a welcome relief from the chaos of packing, moving, unpacking and hockey.

I hadn't been as in touch with some of my writer friends as I'd like in June, and it was great to critique my friends' fiction and hopefully give them some advice that will help them as they revise.

It was great to get back into the swing of things.

New Laptop

In my continued attempts to acquire 21st-century technology, I purchased a new computer -- an HP Pavilion.

My old computer lasted me for five years and it had a hell of a run. But it was time. It was slow. It still ran on Windows XP (at least I bypassed the whole Vista fiasco). It was slow. If I watched too much YouTube it would run out of memory and shut down. And it was really freakin' slow. Seriously, once I finished my daily blog it would take me like 10 minutes to post it on Twitter, Gmail and Facebook.

I got this new guy at Best Buy on sale.

I've been using this new bad boy for about a week and (knock on wood) thus far I really like it. I'm still getting used to the new keyboard and, as such, I've been spelling everything wrong when I type (one thing I did like about my old Dell was the keyboard, but keyboards aren't quite as useful when the computer is slow) Also, the built-in mouse is a little stiff, but I've had that problem with every laptop I've owned.

Now if I can just figure out how to do wireless Internet, I'll be golden.

Bluetooth

As many of you know I recently got a new cell phone and Bluetooth headset.

Yes, I've entered the 21st century. Now I can talk on the phone in the car without risking life and limb. It's actually kind of cool.

And the other day the Bluetooth battery died, and my phone instantly reverted back to normal mode, where I talk into the receiver. This was a great development. I can now charge the Bluetooth and have the peace of mind to know that I will still have cell phone access.

Ah, technology. Next I may try that new Internet thing.

Fourth of July

My Fourth of July plans had been simple -- a cookout at a friend's house. These plans took a dramatic change when my friend's father, who is in his 80s, fell at home and had to be rushed to the emergency room.

There are many reasons to celebrate the Independence Day that don't involve cooking out or fireworks. It celebrates our declaring independence from a British Empire that at the time was oppressively infringing upon our civil liberties and taxing us without representation. Still, it sucks when your plans fall through.

Luckily, my mom called to ask how I was adjusting to my new place. She lives in Boston in a high-rise and has a great view of downtown. I mentioned to her that my plans fell through and she invited me over. This was still easier said than done, since she is right off Storrow Drive, a key route of the festivities, and also a Red Sox game was taking place yesterday afternoon.

In one of those miracle of miracles, I don't think I've ever hit less traffic in Boston. Either people were scared off by the prospect of driving in or I went in early enough in the day to avoid the mass traffic. We had pizza and chips and soda and watched the fireworks on TV and from out my mom's window.

Plan B's really come through in a pinch.

Back To Normal

Things are more or less back to normal again. I'm moved in. I'm back online. I'm unpacked (I have a few things that need to be moved here or there, but again, more or less).

I still feel anxious, though. June was a whirlwind month and I think it will take some time to come down from the heightened sense or urgency. Also, I have residency coming up soon, a novel to continue to work on, and just the usual odds and ends of adjusting to the new place.

Basically what I'm saying is, I'm still a little keyed up. Even though things are returning to business as usual, it will take me some time to really feel like it.