Big changes
May 3, 2010We’re moving in twelve days. Ish. We’re moving in twelve-ish days. Also? The final, final, finally-final edit of our book is due in fourteen days. (No “ish,” there. Fourteen days. Two weeks from today.) Those are two very big things that I am doing in two weeks. So.
This final book edit includes all the art that will be in the book, which includes not only the excellent illustrations by our devastatingly talented illustrator (as well as additional images by a multi-talented blogger you may be familiar with, and if you’re not, you should be) but also all the public-domain clip art and photos we’re relying on because 1) illustrations are expensive (if worth it!) and 2) did you know that the authors have to pay the illustrator out of their advance? Or their trust funds? Whichever? The things you learn!
So I'm a little busy. It’s a good thing I have these beta blockers to abuse, I’ll tell you what. Plus fistfuls of Xanax. I am so goddamn mellow.
Let’s talk about our apartment, shall we? We got an apartment. I’m really excited. It’s the only apartment on the third and top-most floor, which means there shall be no one above us to stomp around and/or murder each other. (Of course some pigeons might engage in a final showdown up there. As they do.) No one will even be walking past our door. And if anyone approaches our floor, we have permission to kill them. (I think. I have to check the lease.) Also, once it is built and barring any acts of God etc. we will have a roof deck. Roof. Deck. All to ourselves. Party at our place!
The place is sunny and high-ceilinged and has many other fine attributes, such as a washer/dryer (every apartment dweller in New York just got woozy when they read that), and Henry loves his new room. It's going to be great. In the meantime, though, we have to move, which is unfortunate. Who wants to help us pack? We’ll supply the boxes and packing tape. Where are you going?
The good news is that we’ve seriously streamlined since last year’s move, when we owned a quirky and vast collection of teapots and numerous vintage suitcases filled with tortured diaries and, oh, an an entire basement crammed floor to ceiling with baby items. I’ve discovered that I enjoy nothing more than getting rid of stuff. I am the anti-hoarder. There should be a reality show about people like me. “Squanderers.” “Throwers-away.” You can watch me stacking gravy boats on the curb with a sign that says “FREE! GET IT OUT OF HERE! FREE!” while Scott pleads with me to keep at least one, for God’s sake, surely at some point we will use gravy on something. Get on that, television executives.
Reader Comments (69)
Good luck with the move. I would help you pack but I'm absolutely useless with that, and usually end up with 2 or 3 carloads of stuff that never made it into boxes for some reason.
We are getting married in the winter and I break out in hives when I think about the possiblitiy of registering - WHERE WILL I PUT THE NEW GARLIC PRESS? Clutter! Eeek!
Congrats! Can't wait to hear what Henry says about his new room. What will you do his room in?
Also, I have found a fabulous local consignment store that gives me a discount if I use my credit on their items. Now, if I think they might even remotely take something, you just try tearing it out of my hands.
My poor infant daughter - she might have no keepsakes from her childhood if her father doesn't intervene soon.
Good luck on your move!
Good luck with the move. The new apartment sounds perfect, aside from the murderous pigeons, but what can you do?
Oh, and i too love nothing more than purging myself of unnecessary or inessential belongings when moving. It feels cathartic and spiritually cleansing to travel light.
Good Luck in your new digs!(P.S., I would totally help you move. I've done it 8 times in the last 20 years. I'm sort of an expert.)
xoxo,
Brooke
Anyway, congrats on the book and the new apartment! I hope you get lots of help moving. : )
Congrats. You have a lot to do in two weeks!
And then somebody come over and help me purge! Or squander. Or whatever.
Good luck with the move and congrats on the book Alice!
Congratulations on the move! I'm so excited for you guys, virtually! I'm excited about you getting rid of stuff too! I try not to think about the purging I am planning for this September when my youngest starts school finally . . . I swear I nearly have orgasms when I think about all the damn ignored toys I can finally give away. Now he's all "but MOM! those are MY Little People!"
DUDE, you're five. They must go!