Careers Paths Not Taken

During my last semester of high school, I took a drafting class. I have no idea what credit requirement it filled, but it's not the sort of thing I would take for fun. I did have a lot fun in the class, though. And not only because the teacher let me do pretty much whatever I wanted as long as I got the assignments done. (Very convenient for me that my mom had been his teacher for the last--and hardest--class he took in college and she helped him out a lot.)

The class was an odd assortment of people--everything from not very bright freshman (I can say that because this one kid actually stuck a paper clip in a socket to get out of watching a movie in 8th grade. Like I said, not very bright) to brilliant seniors like me (I never did anything so foolish as to stick a paper clip in a socket. And if my husband ever tells you the story of me electrocuting myself on the stove, try not to believe him). A couple friends of mine were in the class, which made things fun. And they enjoyed laughing at me when I asked them things like, "What do you do in the bathroom?"

I should stop to think about possible multiple interpretations of things before I speak.

Anyway, the point of this is that I did take a drafting class once, and I enjoyed it.

I realized last night that I am SO not an architect. I love looking at house plans. I love home shows and visiting castles and things. I always have. However, I apparently cannot design castles, at least not very well.

In my revisions last night, I came to a description of a palace belonging to one of my characters. And the description, well, let's just say it wasn't very good. I had bits and pieces in my mind of what I wanted it to look like--things that could show just how arrogant and self absorbed this person was. But those bits and pieces did not come together. At all.

So I spent last night trying to draw this castle and make it work with what I was imagining. I am not an artist. After several attempts, I managed to get something with an extremely wonky perspective (apparently I should have paid more attention during those vanishing point projects in sixth grade), but kind of sort of works. At least well enough that I can get a basic description written. And, as I said, it did make me realize that I am not, in fact, meant to go back to school and have a brilliant career as an architect. Good thing I figured that out before wasting all that money!

Finished!

I went to a book signing over the weekend for Kiersten White's debut novel, Paranormalcy, which hit #7 on the New York Times Bestseller list. And no, I can't show you any pictures because all morning I kept telling myself I needed to remember the camera. And so I forgot the camera. I'm talented that way.

I promise I was there. You know, that person sitting in the front row saving a seat when most of the audience was standing. A seat that stayed empty the entire time. Yeah. My friend made it just in time for the closing applause. So, sorry to anyone there who thought I was just totally rude. There really was a warm body intended to sit there. Please don't hate me.

Ahem. It was fun to see all the other writers I've met at conferences and to meet Kiersten, who is as adorable in real life as she is on her blog. Really, a very cool, funny person. And her book is a lot of fun, so go check it out. Unless you like vampires who are sexy, then it might not be your thing.

In other news, I finished my draft and there was much happiness. I celebrated by falling asleep on the couch. But, now that I worked through my issues from last week (lack of foreshadowing), I'm feeling pretty good about it. Yea!

I also started trying to pack up some of the books in our house and, uh, there are a lot of books. Almost enough to use them for bricks and build a house. Sigh. I should probably start culling the non-essentials. If there is such a thing as a non-essential book. Okay, I guess I don't really need TWO copies of Multivariable Calculus, but other than that . . .

Closet Malfunctions and Braiding Mishaps

My closet had a malfunction a few days ago. Every single item I pulled out of it clashed with everything else in it. Really. My husband will back me up on that. Anyway, I spent a lot of time looking in the mirror and busting up. I should have thought to take pictures, but you'll have to take my word for it that it was bad.

I suppose I'll just have to add "clothes matching" to the list of things I can't do--things like make microwave popcorn and spell my own name correctly when signing official documents.

Anyway, after I managed to find something that almost-but-not-quite matched, I went to help my daughter do her hair. That day I planned to French braid both sides together and put a flower barrette in her hair. After all, I can do it to my own hair (or I could before I cut 10 inches off), so it shouldn't be too hard, right? Anyway, I braided one side, then the other. No problems. It was turning out just as I imagined it it would. But then I tried to tie the two sides together together and everything slid out of place.

This scenario repeated itself. A couple times.

I was thinking about that braiding incident this morning as I was working on my revision. I'm almost to the end and, up until this point, it felt like everything was coming together perfectly. Now as I'm trying to tie up all the loose ends for a satisfactory conclusion, it feels like everything is slipping through my fingers. Just like those braids did.

Ack! Am I the only one who feels like this? And how do I know if it's all in my head or if it really is falling to pieces? Any suggestions?