I got my latest quarterly accounting statement from my publisher today. Beyond all my expectations, my book is still selling nearly three years after release, and accrued royalties just exceeded my advance. That means I may get a royalty next quarter. I don't know who's buying, but thank you!
While I'm not a big fan of New Year's Resolutions, I think anyone who makes an effort to change/enhance/amend or otherwise alter something to have a positive effect (or decrease a negative effect) on themselves or others is to be commended and encouraged.
Good luck to everyone who makes a resolution this year; I hope you achieve your goal.
I am still not smoking, and it's been 17 days now, with no artificial nicotine aids. I'm pretty pumped up about it, especially as it seems to be getting easier now. I only think about lighting up about once or twice a day, which is damn remarkable to me.
I hope everyone has a safe New Year's holiday, and please remember to leave the keys at home if you're drinking - almost every community has free transportation just for the occasion, so no excuses!
My daughter comes home from Tennessee on Monday, so I'm excited about having our Christmas, finally (and to be able to take down the tree!).
I just saw a rather depressing little film on Sundance called "Blog Wars," in which only far-left bloggers are held up as any sort of example of real people power, and the only non-far-left bloggers they could come up with to talk about were Andrew Sullivan and Michelle Malkin.
There has been some buzz about Microsoft giving bloggers gifts just before the holidays (Ferrari laptops w/Vista pre-installed). It is a smart move by Microsoft to get some public reviews, and they are given them with no conditions. The bloggers are also were given the option to return or keep the computers, and it was left up to them whether to disclose the gift.
However there is some whining to the effect that Microsoft is bribing bloggers with laptops. I find that notion silly because the gift are with no strings, and there is no requirement to even do a review.
So Dean and others, what would you do if you received an Acer Ferrari Laptop with no strings? (Value $2200-$2300)
Stuck at work this evening, watching Season 1 of My Name is Earl, and wishing I could leave early, but I managed to finish blogging my 2006 overseas travels.
Sandi, take the damned laptop and run with it. They don't offer you free computer crap like that any too frequently.
Dean, I think all the far left bloggers live in Madison, Wisconsin. Fortunately, a lot of them head out for other parts in mid-winter, because it can get real frozen around here. (Not this year, of course. But one thing about weather you can count on is that it will fluctuate.)
Oh triticale, you pithy mule of a grain, I must plead guilty as charged.
I will also refrain from posting about a certain sex act engaged in by my wife and I today, on the chance that you might favor the George H. W. Bush pronunciation of “Saddam.”
All I can offer at this point is my best wishes. Please hang in there!
I know it’s tough. I’ve been there. When my first wife told me she was leaving me for a chance at “another direction”, I was devastated. I think now that on a certain level, I knew it was going to happen. But I was not prepared at all.
And I suffered, BIG TIME, for a year or two afterward. I don’t think that can be avoided. And it’s a terrible thing to go through.
But I eventually came to realize that it was all for the better. I look back on it now as a positive turning point in my life. All I can recommend is that you try to stay positive, no matter how bad things might seem today.
Maggie: Hard to know what to say without knowing more details. How long have you been together?
To be blunt, I'd suspect he's been having an affair were I you, and has been pressured to leave by his paramour. It would be my first thought anyway. You don't just dump a long-term relationship on such flimsy grounds otherwise.
It's not just men...
one of my (male) co-workers got a divorce for Christmas, much to his surprise.
I don't know why anyone would involve themselves with someone who is married. There's no reason to believe the person wouldn't do it again, no basis for an expectation of future faithfulness.
My first wife did that to me 9 years ago, and told the kids, too, and the reasons were flimsy (turned out to be another man). I found my true love several months later, and I (and my kids) have never been happier.
We've been married 14 years. Together for 16. The one thing I was always so sure of was that he adored me and never, ever worried that he would cheat on me. I told him not to marry me if he didn't mean it because I take marriage seriously and didn't want to do it if he wasn't prepared to make it a lifetime commitment. I didn't get married lightly and I've had plenty of good reasons to have dumped him over the years. Couldn't do it because I couldn't break my vows. Go figure.
I hate his guts at the moment and I still don't want a divorce.
I am so sorry to hear that. That's disgusting. He's not a man, he's a selfish worm. A man stands by his commitments for better or for worse, and doesn't use "unhappy" as an excuse to break them. I doubt there's a long-term married person alive who hasn't had a bout of unhappiness here or there. The whole point of a commitment is to stick together through the worse as well as the better, because the marriage is more important than the mood of the moment.
I'm not opposed to divorce, if there are real grounds: abuse, adultery, etc. Unhappiness doesn't count. I would say at this point that you're better off without him, but that's still awful for your kids.
Ron— I'd guess the reason Martin didn't link his book(s) is because the subject matter is technical programming stuff... or at least, that's what I found when I went to Amazon and typed in Martin L. Shoemaker.
If it's still selling well three years after release, that'a very good, and possibly indicative of it being used as a textbook.
12.31.2006 2:41pm
Commenting on Dean's World is a privilege, not a right. Dean is your host, you are his guest, and you should behave in that fashion. Dean is not your babysitter, nor is he your punching bag. Please remember this. In general, you are free to disagree with anyone on any subject you wish, but abusive behavior will not be tolerated.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.
I got my latest quarterly accounting statement from my publisher today. Beyond all my expectations, my book is still selling nearly three years after release, and accrued royalties just exceeded my advance. That means I may get a royalty next quarter. I don't know who's buying, but thank you!
Good luck to everyone who makes a resolution this year; I hope you achieve your goal.
I am still not smoking, and it's been 17 days now, with no artificial nicotine aids. I'm pretty pumped up about it, especially as it seems to be getting easier now. I only think about lighting up about once or twice a day, which is damn remarkable to me.
I hope everyone has a safe New Year's holiday, and please remember to leave the keys at home if you're drinking - almost every community has free transportation just for the occasion, so no excuses!
My daughter comes home from Tennessee on Monday, so I'm excited about having our Christmas, finally (and to be able to take down the tree!).
Health and happiness to all...
Linda
Ah well. Whatever.
However there is some whining to the effect that Microsoft is bribing bloggers with laptops. I find that notion silly because the gift are with no strings, and there is no requirement to even do a review.
So Dean and others, what would you do if you received an Acer Ferrari Laptop with no strings? (Value $2200-$2300)
Dean, I think all the far left bloggers live in Madison, Wisconsin. Fortunately, a lot of them head out for other parts in mid-winter, because it can get real frozen around here. (Not this year, of course. But one thing about weather you can count on is that it will fluctuate.)
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
It was 53 and sunny today, so I put the top down and did some back road driving. It was awesome!
My lips got so chapped that they are now cracked and bleeding, but I’m still smiling!
My last book never came close to selling out to its advance. But thank G-d it was a decent advance!
A month ago I would have told you I was a happily married woman that survived some really rough bumps in the road and things have never been better.
Two weeks ago my husband told me he was "unhappy".
Tonight I've been "dumped". He told the kids we were separating.
WTF?
I will also refrain from posting about a certain sex act engaged in by my wife and I today, on the chance that you might favor the George H. W. Bush pronunciation of “Saddam.”
All I can offer at this point is my best wishes. Please hang in there!
I know it’s tough. I’ve been there. When my first wife told me she was leaving me for a chance at “another direction”, I was devastated. I think now that on a certain level, I knew it was going to happen. But I was not prepared at all.
And I suffered, BIG TIME, for a year or two afterward. I don’t think that can be avoided. And it’s a terrible thing to go through.
But I eventually came to realize that it was all for the better. I look back on it now as a positive turning point in my life. All I can recommend is that you try to stay positive, no matter how bad things might seem today.
To be blunt, I'd suspect he's been having an affair were I you, and has been pressured to leave by his paramour. It would be my first thought anyway. You don't just dump a long-term relationship on such flimsy grounds otherwise.
one of my (male) co-workers got a divorce for Christmas, much to his surprise.
I don't know why anyone would involve themselves with someone who is married. There's no reason to believe the person wouldn't do it again, no basis for an expectation of future faithfulness.
It's not men, it's humans.
My first wife did that to me 9 years ago, and told the kids, too, and the reasons were flimsy (turned out to be another man). I found my true love several months later, and I (and my kids) have never been happier.
Hang in there. There's always hope.
I hate his guts at the moment and I still don't want a divorce.
I am so sorry to hear that. That's disgusting. He's not a man, he's a selfish worm. A man stands by his commitments for better or for worse, and doesn't use "unhappy" as an excuse to break them. I doubt there's a long-term married person alive who hasn't had a bout of unhappiness here or there. The whole point of a commitment is to stick together through the worse as well as the better, because the marriage is more important than the mood of the moment.
I'm not opposed to divorce, if there are real grounds: abuse, adultery, etc. Unhappiness doesn't count. I would say at this point that you're better off without him, but that's still awful for your kids.
He's a worm.
If it's still selling well three years after release, that'a very good, and possibly indicative of it being used as a textbook.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.