Best Laid Plans

So here we are a week into the new year. Broken all your resolutions yet? I have. Well, it really wasn’t a resolution so much as a promise to myself. I really don’t like making ‘resolutions’ because they seem destined to fail before the ink is even dry. And mine did. But it’s not my fault. Really. It’s the fault of this very mild, weird winter we’re having on the east coast. And no, I’m not out having fun. I wish I were.

I only made one resolution/promise -- to spend January revising a book that an editor showed a lot of interest in and wanted to see again after I made some changes. My agent received her email regarding the book two days before Thanksgiving. I knew that with the chaos of the holidays and non-stop company for much of December (plus some minor surgery right before Christmas) that there was no chance I’d get anything done in the way of revisions before the end of the year. Heck, I knew I wouldn’t get any writing done aside from an occasional email during that period, and with an infant and toddler in the house for a good portion of that time, even that was problematic. So figuring the editor didn’t expect to see the book before the beginning of February (at least that’s what I’m hoping) and knowing that I can revise fairly quickly, I gave myself permission to wait until January to begin. January 2nd I’d start. By January 31st the editor would have the revised manuscript on her desk. Piece of cake.

Or so I thought.

Except that I didn’t factor in getting sick with the head cold that devoured Cleveland. And given that I’m in New Jersey, you can imagine the sort of head cold I’m talking about! Think can't-get-out-of-bed flu without the fever and add a sore throat and bronchitis to the mix. It’s hard to write when neither your brain nor your eyes will focus and your body doesn’t want to be in any positions other than prone or supine but your symptoms keep you awake all night.

Anyway, back to blaming my predicament on the weather. You might wonder how I came by this convoluted rationale. Well, we’re going through the second warmest winter ever recorded in my area of the country. Last year we had about 20 inches of snow by this time. So far this winter I think we’ve only had two days where the Fahrenheit dipped below freezing during the day. It’s January 8th, and we’ve yet to have a killing frost. Without a killing frost the germs are partying like its New Year’s Eve, Christmas, and Ground Hog’s Day all wrapped up into one huge gala event. It’s so warm that the crocuses, daffodils, and cherry blossoms are starting to bloom!

And it’s not just me. Everyone is sick. As bad as I’ve had it, my husband has had it worse. So here we are a week into my schedule, and I’ve revised not so much as a single sentence, thanks to a Pacific warm front that’s had the calendar thinking it’s spring for the last two months. Meanwhile, I’m feeling a bit better today. By the time you read this I should be tackling that manuscript. I’m considering adopting a Japanese custom and wearing a face mask when I go out in public, at least until my revisions are done. If I catch anything else, I want it to be a break. I could use one of those right about now.