Down to earth

Picture the scene: I stagger to work unable to breathe because of my rotten cold. My nose has ballooned to ten times its normal size. My skin is pasty, my head is about to explode and I cannot stop sneezing. Much as I try NOT to be unbeautiful the weather and the virus are against me.

It is Sunday. It has not stopped raining or blowing a gale force wind rendering one’s umbrella useless, rendering one’s waterproof hood useless. There is no heating in the building and already the phones are ringing and we don’t even open for another five minutes.

I’ve had this Sunday job for over a year now. It supplements my full time income and has allowed me a certain kind of financial freedom. However since the Cat’s chemo and surgery, it’s not been enough. That’s why on the 1 Jan 2010 I took the decision to tart my stories to a few competitions in hope. I sent off four stories to four different competitions in total.

It’s been exactly 2 months and still no inkling of any results. Their websites all have the “Competition closed. Judging in process” signs on. Two months. I know there are bloggers who have blogged about the waiting time writers are kept when they submit (see womagwriter & Spellmaker) their submissions so I don’t even put myself in that league.

But still.

Anyway, I’m already feeling and looking rotten so to cheer myself up I tart the 100stories for Haiti to my co-worker Daniel.

Let me introduce you to Daniel. He is one of the most laid-back, most easy-going guys on this planet with a wicked sense of humour to match. When I croak out my hello to him, he greets me with “At least you’re making the effort to sound as bad as you look.”

When I tell him all about my dreams and goals and happiness at having one story published – finally!! – he replies with, “Oh it’s great to know you have one talent outside of work.”

Which strangely enough made me laugh so loud it dislodged whatever blockage I had from my nose.

And that in turn made him laugh.

p.s. he’s pre-ordered the book.

:-)