I'll probably donate it to the next charity auction that comes along.

I was thinking that in your shoes I would do something like that. Are you sure you don't want to give me the guy's email addy, so I can sign him up for a variety of email newsletters?

Kristin, that response from the Head of School does sound good. Continued ~ma on that front.

Good going Kristin!

smonster, I'd say cut your losses and have as little to do with him as possible (although the idea of spamming him with penis enlargement messages with a suggestion that he really needs it is amusing).

Aims, the condo looks good - comes WITH fireplace, dishwasher, basement and WITHOUT crazy uncle!

And in regard to the tea bag/party crazies - several Members of Congress have pooh-poohed the ones yelling racist and homophobic things (as well, I suppose, as the one who spit on Rep. Cleaver). Nope ... that won't fly - they've been encouraging the crazies, feeding their anger, and now they've crawled out from under their rocks and shown themselves.

Now ... we had another rally in DC on Sunday - one that had over 100,000 people. Media coverage was minimal. However, one of the people who were against the rally-ers was scared by some mimes.

I have one more (purely factual) email I need to send after I get home today, but I will not send any other messages.

Do you have stuff of his or he have stuff of yours? If there's no material parsing out, and it's just a case of him being wrong in email and you feeling a need to correct him, leave it. Drop it. He's wrong, and he's feeling wronged, and he's going to keep trying to get the last word, so let him have it while he talks to the hand/spam filter.

Do any bitches--especially those who've met me--have a moment for some fashion advice, please? I love this dress and I'm pretty sure the color would look good on me. But I'm 42. Would this be a mutton dressed as lamb situation?

it's just a case of him being wrong in email and you feeling a need to correct him, leave it.

It's not me correcting him. I owe him some information. That's all.

ABB rocks...love her. Gavin de Becker(who likes secure carrots) would say that smonster should not engage her ex any further, because it will just inflame his offended pride and make him feel more invested...he used a lot more words than that, because that how my fake bf's roll) He'd probably recommend a seperate folder for ex-bf e. Sometimes I think there should be WWGdBD t-shirts and coffee mugs and whatnot.

Thanks for the encouragement guys. At this point, I'm just very Kermit arms flaily about the whole thing. I feel as if I'm in a rut, simply because publishing is in such a complete shithole at the moment. What's selling, regardless of quality, tends to be dark, post-apoc or literary mash-ups, neither of which I have any interest in writing.

The simple fact of the matter is, no matter how good I am or think I am, in terms of craft, I'm simply not good enough nor do I stand out quite enough to make publishers take that chance on me-- to be worth that risk.

It's a massive blow to the ego, but it is what it is.

It's no secret that with each story and manuscript, I challenge myself. I always try something a little different. So there is that-- however, it is a relatively solitary challenge and I'm starting to wonder if I need to venture out of my safe little hidey hole and let others challenge me. I won't lie-- it scares the shit out of me. The idea that my style will be altered and shaped in a way in directed by someone else. I also tend to shy away from critique groups because I don't subscribe to the many chefs stirring the soup style. I guess I'm afraid of losing myself and what defines me as a writer. (I know, ego much? I really do need to get the fuck over myself.)

Again, though, my career is stagnating at the moment and I need to figure out what to do in order to push it off the plateau and up to the next level because clearly, what I'm doing right now, ain't working all that well.

Lewis suggested that perhaps I might also explore some retreats-- something geared at writers who might have the kind of experience I have, rather than the typical conference which is geared at the unpublished author. That way, I can decide if a more extensive program would be the thing for me.

I just want to keep improving craft and you know, keep working.

Would this be a mutton dressed as lamb situation?

I don't think it's necessarily mutton as lamb, but I think something more tailored would be more flattering. I also have a personal aversion to pink ruffles, keep in mind. It's the ruffle around the bottom that kills it for me.

I think this one would look better, even. [link]

Thanks, smonster. I love the colors in that one, but I'm more comfortable with a bit more sleeve.

ETA: I'm definitely getting this one, and wearing it over a white t-shirt. [link]