I just had a birthday. I never liked having a birthday so
close to the beginning of the year. I think it has to do with my childhood. I
had a grandparent who would give me combination birthday/Hanukkah monetary
presents, which added up to the same amount each of my cousins would get just for
Hanukkah. Then, being right after the hectic holidays, people would either be sick
from the seasonal flu or too broke to spend my birthday with me.
I’m not being whiny. Just truthful.
Now I have a lot of friends who want to take me out for
lunch or dinner or coffee or whatever and I’d prefer to hide out here in my
hidey hole. Some people think it’s because I don’t like the idea of getting
older. Trust me, that’s not it at all. I love getting older and would hate to
suddenly stop. I'm just not that into celebrating. I
especially dislike surprise parties, which my husband last sprung on me about ten years ago. I’ve never quite forgiven him, but after my daughter chastised me for being an ingrate, I always reluctantly consent to birthday
celebrations.
Once again, I know I sound like a total douche, but I’m not. Just a partial one.
The problem is that I get overwhelmed easily when I've got lots of other stuff going on. It’s hard for me to accept luncheon invitations when I’m in the
middle of freelance assignments and other mishegas. That is, I’m perfectly capable of writing whatever
it is I'm assigned, but there are so many variables that can hinder my
delivery on or before deadline that I get these adrenaline surges that make me
even more hyper and worried than I already am. If I'm out to lunch or dinner or coffee or whatever, that means I'm not in my office doing my job.
Here’s my January calendar so far. (Warning: May bore you,
so speed through it.)
My birthday was last Sunday. Two friends took me out for a birthday lunch. I do crime blotters for my newspaper every Monday, meaning I go to two police stations
and transcribe the weekly crimes committed by the fine citizens of my community.
Tuesday I had an optometry appointment, which included a dilation. Afterward, my parents took me and
my big black pupils out for a birthday lunch. Yesterday,
I had a freelance assignment, meaning I put on my Girl Reporter outfit, did an
onsite interview, shot photos and then did some errands. I added a post to my vintage purse blog. Made a bunch of business phone calls. Got a new assignment, so today I had to call that interviewee and
leave a message to set up a time to do an interview. Waiting for a call back
(one of those variables I mentioned previously). I also wrote up the article
from yesterday’s interview and sent that and the photos to my editor.
Worked on my opinion column. Tonight, three of my ex-PTA friends are taking me to dinner for my birthday. Tomorrow I have to do a mountain of tax stuff and
go food shopping, plus try to finish my column. Sunday, a friend is taking me for coffee for my
birthday. Monday, blotters, then another friend is taking me to lunch for my
birthday. Tuesday I have to turn in my column. Wednesday night, I’m a guest at a local book club that read I MURDERED THE PTA. Next weekend, I’m going to the The Best of VC Marketplace to drop off copies
of I MURDERED THE PTA and discuss a possible book signing (variable). The 24th,
I’m giving a talk at the Camarillo Library for its new local author series, but
the person who’s moderating the discussion wants to meet me for lunch sometime
before then (variable). The 31st is when my publisher and I start
editing the second in my series of Daphne Lee-Lee Misadventures, I MURDERED THE
SPELLING BEE.
January also means typing invoices and recording
payments for my husband’s business, miscellaneous book promotion, more freelance assignments, working on a new business we've been trying to get off the ground, my wedding anniversary, a charity poker
tournament and a weekend visit to see my grandson. (Note: I highlighted the birthday stuff so you can see how unnecessary it is, and the variables so you can see how much they throw a wrench into my hidey hole.)
For those of you with real jobs, this probably sounds like
cake. Birthday cake. Me, I prefer pudding. Or crème brûlée. Those go down so much more smoothly.
Only a few days left to enter my Goodreads giveaway. And
make me go to the post office on top of everything else already on my
calendar. Enter now!
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