Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Catching Up

I've been missing in action again. You may not even have noticed, but if you have, I apologize. I'm posting the last two chapters of the novel, Maggy. Then I need to practice writing a query letter. One of the good things about twitter is that there are a bunch of literary agents on twitter; I'm following several of them. And it seems the big hurdle for most writers seeking an agent is learning the art of the query letter. So I'll soon start practicing my query letter writing. Seems to be part pitch, part bio, part appeal to the ego of the agent. I can write a novel, a short story, a poem, but a pitch? We'll see.

Yesterday I had atrial fibrillation and hinky blood pressure. In the past I didn't feel the atrial fibrillation, but yesterday it put me down like an old dog. I was ashen and exhausted, and completely uninspired. It was one more day in a month of extremely high temperatures, so as well as sick, I was limp from the heat. I promised my neighbor that if I woke up today with hinky blood pressure and the stuttering pulse, I'd call my doctor. Well, I seem fine today, but still called my doctor's office to let her know about yesterday's episode. I see her in a couple of weeks anyway. I think the stress of having three girlfriends who are so seriously ill has stressed me to the limit. It's as if I can't bear the fact that I am going to be left alone, alive and very old. Some would say this is better than the alternative, but I'm not so sure. It was always my plan to exit early. Yet here I am older than I ever imagined I'd be.

I'm going to be following the healthcare debate very carefully. I wish to god I were very very rich so I could contribute several million to anyone who could defeat Orin Hatch. That old prissy prick needs to retire. He is as right-wing as one gets, and completely in the pocket of the insurance industry. Harry Reid needs to go too. Harry is about as spineless as they come. I think Harry's problem is that he's a Mormon, and as a Mormon he ought to be a republican. He reminds me of Joey Leiberman. He's straddling the fence of his religious values and his political affiliation and it's giving him a wedgie. So I'd pump some money into bringing down Harry as well. Then there are the "blue dog democrats." I'd start going after them with my discretionary millions. Boy is it fun to dream those kind of dreams. How nice it would be to have the money to influence the outcome of political races. United Healthcare is going to be going full-out to fight the possibility of a public option. Do not let those criminals change the debate. United Healthcare and it's "think tank" the Lewin Group is still rich enough to pour hundreds of millions into fighting a public option. Do not let them influence you. Please write and call your elected representatives to let them know where you stand on the healthcare debate. Sorry if that sounds like a lecture, but this is important. I have medicare, you should too. It's the best medical coverage I ever had, and I used to pay $1,000 a month to United Healthcare for shitty coverage.

11 comments:

themom said...

I agree with you on Reid and Hatch. I'm more impressed with those who have a backbone too. It is no wonder you had a "down" day w/ blood pressure and palpitations. Your plate has been so full the past few weeks.

to cheer you up - I have a present for you at my place. It fits you to a T.

PENolan said...

Yikes.
I wish you had millions and millions of dollars too, even though it might be frightening ;)

lisahgolden said...

Hi. I sent you an email that I hope you will find helpful.

Utah Savage said...

TheMom, thanks, I love it. I have even thanked you and it's already resting comfortably on my mantel, er, side bar or side board, whatever it's called. I still don't have the blogging lingo down. What do you think? Five years? Start taking bets.

PEN one of the first things I'd do is visit New York. We'd have some fun.

Lisa, thanks for that link. It looks useful and interesting. I just blathered on at your place. Synchronisity is so sweet. Make me think we're riding the same current.

PENolan said...

ps: Do you know about NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month. It starts in November. The rules are to write 50,000 words in a month, but only the purists care about that. The main thing is the agents who read the books. I started last year but only got about 24,000 words. I'll be doing it again this year.

Utah Savage said...

PEN, No I hadn't heard about it. I'll check it out.

Anonymous said...

I don't want to hear about any more atrial fibuwhatsis or hinky blood pressure, lady. Take care of yourself!

Sherry Pasquarello said...

take care of yourself, o.k?

Randal Graves said...

Try this one:


Dear literary agent,

What I have before me is a work of brilliance. But not as brilliant as your witty repartee nor your snazzy threads. Do you buy at the most upscale joints in town, or did you merely descend from the heavens?

Sincerely,

Utah Savage


It's bound to work or your money back.

anita said...

Utah, did you catch Bill Kristol on The Daily Show where Jon Stewart got Kristol to admit that the VA provides probably the best healthcare in the country. But he (Kristol) doesn't think the "average american" deserves such excellent health care? So he's basically saying that THE GOVERNMENT is providing above average healthcare. William Kristol. What a hypocrite.

Anonymous said...

I too agree with thr Reid and hatch..

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