Monday, April 6, 2009

Some Rain Must Fall

Long time, no blog, huh?

I’ve been waiting for something light-hearted and fun (or, alternately, intellectually engaging and fun) to happen so I don’t have to be the Eeyore on your blogroll, the Debbie Downer in your RSS, the black fly in your chardonnay. But it’s just not happening.

In the scheme of things, in comparison, all is extravagantly okay. We got jobs, for one. But it’s been a series of bummers, really. For example: After the surgery, my blood pressure shot up and it took a couple weeks to get it under control. The hardback of my book has been remaindered. Oprah got all Real Talk about motherhood today with guests that were neither Stephanie nor me nor anyone I know, and my grapes were ever so sour. And the worst news is that our dog Simon has bone cancer and isn’t long for this world.

I know that things will look up. I’m enough an optimist to know that in a few weeks time, life will be better and a new era will have begun and I can stop looking at the ends and start looking at beginnings. But I'm also enough of a pessimist—or realist—to know that even if that is true, my dog will still be dead. And that is what’s killing me.

15 comments:

Anjali said...

Oh, my. Sorry about the surgery, terribly sorry about your dog, and bummed about the book. You would have lent a lot to the discussion on Oprah. I'm sad weren't there, too.

Unknown said...

Oh, I'm chiming in on the sorries about your dog, your blood pressure, and your book. And especially about the Oprah show -- it was mostly just one joke after another on the theme of "we all suck at this, let's not judge each other" which is nice and makes you feel better (or it did me). But they really didn't talk seriously in an intelligent way about issues of motherhood at all the way Brain, Child does. And Brain, Child addresses issues while still being just as supportive. Your input was sorely needed! And if they just wanted to stick to the feel good superficial stuff on that show, well fine, but given Oprah's audience, she should do more shows on the (many, varied) topics of mothering.

BabelBabe said...

I am sorry about your dog. That's hard.

As for Oprah, Vicki Glembocki, one of the moms on Oprah today, wrote a terrific book called "The Second Nine Months." It's totally the sort of thing BC would publish. I missed the show, but they obviously did not give enough time to her )Dooce probably hogged the spotlight : )) Check out Vicki's book, it's funny and real. So you know her, sorta, through me, who only knows you via the Internet. : )

Heather said...

What a bummer about the book (along with everything else). I read it, actually--and thought it was a fabulous idea, and thought your journey through self-help funny and illuminating...and a bit like a mirror held up to my own 'do-it-better!' tendencies. I hope that grieving the possibilities of the book won't obscure the fact that you _did_ have readers who read your work and enjoyed it.

Beth HF said...

Oh Jenny-Simonster, my Gee Your Hair Smells So Nicely buddy! Oh crap...I will have to visit soon. But just Simon, sorry. No, really.
I saw the Oprah too and thought, darn it-Brain,Child has been "tellin' it like it is for almost ten years!" But I guess we're not blonde enough (oops, I am a bit blonde). Ahh, the remainders....Green Valley Book Fair ain't such a bad place:)

Beth HF said...

oops-I meant Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific.

Jennifer said...

Hey, thanks, peeps! Heather, thanks for the kind words about the book--it *is* still available in paperback, so maybe I shouldn't be so gloomy about it, but it's one more thing to throw into the milkshake of yech right now.

Anjali, Stephany, B., and Beth--I didn't catch all of the Oprah show (and I'm glad a friend of a friend was representing). I totally agree that Ms. O needs to do more shows--and my guess is that she will. They gave away a bunch of devices for recording yourself; I would bet cash money that the O Moms thing is partly a way for producers to find mothers that can give good TV. Maybe we should all start looking for our Wow Wear?

Bette said...

dammit. I am so sorry.

Jody said...

Oh no! I'm so sorry about Simon especially. And the rest of it too.

jessica handler said...

Damn. Just, damn.

Jennifer said...

Thanks again. He died today. All I have to say for right now that I don't want to be in charge of euthanasia--I hope Luna will do us the kindness of dying in a dressage championship or the like.

xxoo

Brene said...

I'm thinking about you and I'm grateful that you're not the person on my blogroll who is constantly blowing sunshine. I love coming here because you are real and honest and brave. That brings light to my day.

PS - you book is in good company in remainder land.

Kelli said...

Dear Jenny,
I am so truly sorry about Simon. I STILL miss Katie and Belle.....and it took me a long time to heal from losing them. Even now I get choked up when I think about them. I am so sorry about everything else too. You are such a talented writer!!! Sending you a big hug!

Love,
Kelli

Well Read Hostess said...

You know...that Oprah thing was a black fly in my...I don't like Chardonnay...diet pepsi.

I didn't feel like those people especially one of them whom I will not mention by name because I fear her power and wrath isn't "real life mom." AT ALL. LIKE EVEN REMOTELY.

Boo Oprah. She could have done better.

Jennifer said...

Hey, thanks, my ladies! xxoo