Socks Without Partners

Ugly Girl, Center Left, with the Prominent Gums

Okay, so this is probably THE most unflattering photograph of me ever taken, BUT...this was THE party, the cherry on the sundae after a very grueling week, and I was pleasantly (or not so pleasantly) 'on the drink.' Yes, folks, I have a weakness for flavored beers, especially the raspberry special brew of the Steamworks in downtown Van. And after an extremely intense bonding week with these lovely folks--my peer group for the Book Editing Immersion Workshop--it was time to put aside our manuscripts and all of the good stuff we literally CRAMMED into our skulls and cram our stomachs with all things liquid. At least I did. (Remember, I don't get out much...). There were a FEW other people who enjoyed the martini menu (David) and the house red (Lara) and hmmmmm...who else wants to be given up here? I can't look like a lush alone, so I will siiiiing like a canary.

ANYHOOOO...it was fun. Until the next morning when God turned the sun up to Really Bright just to punish me. Thank God my sister was here to replenish my soul with Powerade and my husband is the Supportive Wonderful Type who tried to feed me dry toast and Gravol.

I learned a TON in this week of manuscript slicing and dicing, and I was even fortunate enough to walk away with the REAL, published book from the manuscript we worked on, "Wild About Science" by Victoria Miles (a Canadian writer!). It was AWESOME. The little tiny creature in the middle--she was my editor (I love saying that--MY editor)--THAT is Lynn Henry. Man, is SHE a diva! In a totally good way, of course. I love that woman. Her brain is SO full of stuff--I swear she probably knows everything in the whole wide world. AND she gave me the most awesome gift at the end of the week--"Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott. *sniff sniff* It was just so great. *Tissue please.*

Now, I don't wanna embarrass the rest of the crew by naming them, so I won't go left to right or anything, but Rowena, Lara, and Crazy Vanessa from NY--they rocked. We had the BEST group. It was so fun--exhausting but exhilarating. AND--there's more--I learned all about public transit! After spending $22 to park and almost getting locked into the parking garage because of some crazy bike race (the Tour de Gas Town) on the first day, I discovered the train that dropped me across the street from SFU Harbour Centre. It RULED. Of course, all of the other bleary-eyed, early morning transit riders looked at me like I was on a day pass from Riverview because I was SO excited to be out of the house on a TRAIN that I sat perfectly erect in my seat and smiled at everything and stared out all the windows...I think those two Filipinas are STILL convinced that I was trying to eavesdrop, but honestly, I don't speak Tagalog and I was just trying to get a look out the window. Very exciting stuff, you see. Even if I looked a little mental.

SOOOO ... if anyone needs a book edited, I'm your man, er, WOman. Seriously. I need titles for the resume. Tell your writer friends. Call them. Now. They won't mind. It's not midnight yet.

No, I have not had ANY raspberry beer tonight so bugger off. (Do you have any?)

posted by JSY @ 11:02 PM