Genius dog, spoiled, MSS update

[mrissa]

Apparently it's my day to spam the lj. Sigh.

timprov and I just took missista for a walk. He coined a new word in an attempt to work around her ever-greater vocabulary, asking me, "So, you up for some peditation?" The genius poodle immediately perked up and started wagging her tail in her very specific, "A walk? Oh boy!" manner. Sigh. If we'd gotten an Afghan hound, we would not have this problem. Of course, if we'd gotten an Afghan hound, it would still be trying to figure out what on earth we could possibly mean about relieving itself in the backyard. (Incidentally, the genius poodle looks like she may have a UTI. I'll take her in to the vet's tomorrow.)

(I do not begrudge her the trip, truly I don't. We take care of each other in this house. But did I need one more thing on the to-do list? I did not.)

It turns out I really need to write Chapter 11 before any of the rest of The Mark of the Sea Serpent can gel. I could maybe finish off Chapter 18 first, but apparently Chapter 11 needs to be next. So that's the agenda for the evening. I have six chapters and a few add-ins left. They are action-y chapters. They are big, important chapters. They will, I think, be fun chapters. but the rest of Chapter 11 needs to happen first. This writing non-sequentially thing: it doesn't mean that my brain doesn't get stubborn about what happens next.

My brain, stubborn, yes, I know: I should warn you all to sit down before such shocking revelations. Well, too late now, I suppose.

A bit ago, there was a "how spoiled are you" meme going around, and everyone who did it noted how, um, random some of the stuff was. But what I want to know is, what makes you spoiled? What luxuries do you have that you really appreciate not having to do without? Right now, today, I'm thinking of two. One is that I can get fresh fruit when I want it -- there are strawberries in the fridge waiting to be cleaned. There's a canteloupe. Minnesota is not even close to its strawberry season yet, and I don't even know if we have a canteloupe season. But I can plan on eating them whenever I want to, just because I want to; I can take the fresh fruit and vegetable portion of the grocery budget utterly for granted, because of course we'll buy fresh fruits and veggies, don't be silly. Also, I can decide to have Indian takeout just because I feel like it, not because it's a greatly special occasion of any kind. It's not the Indianness in specific -- although having more than one local takeout place is probably spoiled, too -- it's that I can declare that someone else will cook for me tonight, and it will happen. Compared to most of the world, this is incredibly spoiled.

Comments

[numinicious.livejournal.com]

I have to admit I'm spoiled when it comes to college.
I live with my parents a mile from my university, I eat a variety of foods that are extremely cheap (I live on roughly $20 of fooding a week), I get a room twice the size of dorms that I have to share with no one but me, a bed that, although frequently occupied by other people, is generally my own. And while I sometimes dislike my parents and often dislike my university, it's nice to only have to pay $6000 a year when everyone else pays $40,000.

So yea, I'm spoiled. But I don't bloody well care. :]

Luxuries

[mackatlaw.livejournal.com]

Access to music and books. I love our public libraries; I think they are one of the best things government has done for us. I could get by without music and books, but why? Benjamin Franklin made lending libraries successful in America (or so I've read), and it's great. I can go check out things I couldn't afford otherwise, even though giving them back can be difficult. Sometimes these pleasures make so much of life a little happier.

[(Anonymous)]

As I sit here reading this, I have a latte brewing here at home. This indeed makes me very spoiled. Also, I am able to do extensive research just by sitting down at my own computer. I can search articles on loads of magazines in ways that weren't possible even ten years ago. And I have a husband who insists that I get nice things on a regular basis, even if I am being too cheap to buy them myself. It's good to be me :).

Heathah

[ladysea.livejournal.com]

I am spoiled by my family. They never utter a peep over my pottery class. It is not cheap, lasts three hours a week, and often can influence what everyone is doing that night. But they encourage me, and praise my work. I love bringing things home to them. hehe

I am also spoiled by the fact that I do not have to have a job outside of the house. When I was trying to work a full-time job, and be Super-Mom...it did not work well. I love the fact that my job is taking care of my family and the house. Goodness knows it keeps me busy enough. =P

[diatryma.livejournal.com]

I'm spoiled because I don't have a job. I'm graduating from university in two weeks, and all I'm doing over the summer is temping.
I'm spoiled because I always assume I have the money for what I want. I always have in the past-- I don't want much. It's rare that I'll want something out of my range, so I have trouble not buying everything I do want. After all, I have the money, right?
Also very spoiled by a mother who will mail me absolutely anything I need, from shoes, pillows, food processor, dress for graduation, candy candy candy, cute little cards to... all of that stuff again. Yo heart mi mom.

[mkille.livejournal.com]

I'm spoiled by my current employer. I honestly think I could say something like, "I have to sneeze, and my super special kleenex is at home, so I need to leave early today," and they would not only tell me to go home, but offer to give me a ride just so I wouldn't be driving if my sneeze came early.

[mkille.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I've been meaning to say, every time I see "MSS" I think you're abbreviating "manuscripts," which is just close enough to what you actually mean that I can't successfully uproot it from my brain.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Don't worry; I think of that, too.

[janlewis.livejournal.com]

My job makes me spoiled. I have 3 or 4 days off every week, I make good money, and I can spend the majority of my work day writing my novel. Oh, and I don't have to get up in the mornings. SO spoiled am I.

Jan

[mamapduck.livejournal.com]

Produce is one of mine. I live in California. On my way to visit Mom I can pull over and buy strawberries from a woman whose family are 10 yards away picking them. Like you, produce is a budget area that's non-negotiable. (I will pay the rent, the electricity, buy produce fresh...)

Health insurance is another. Yes, I pay in, but then My meds are $20 a month instead of $500, I can get mad at my doctor and demand another anytime I want (and yes, I do this) and can get treatment when needed and not worry about what it will cost. If I get run over by a truck it's $100 for the ER, ambulance is covered.