Friday afternoon frustrations

Things that are frustrating me right now:

1. My parents’ insurance. I spent all afternoon on the phone trying to sort out one mess after another. I bet healthcare would be more affordable if the employees of insurance companies were better trained. You do not want to know how many calls I had to make to get a simple answer to a simple questions. Grrr…
2. My desk is awash in backed-up mail again.
3. My revision is not yet done.
4. This is a very bad hair day.
5. College basketball hasn’t started yet.
6. I didn’t get to the gym today.
7. October is almost over.
8. I’m hungry and I don’t know what to eat.
9. I hate myself when I am whiny like this.

On a much happier note, yesterday’s visit to Long Island City High School (in Queens) was a blast. It is a massive school – nearly 4,500 students! – but it felt like a warm and nurturing place.

Image hosted by TinyPic.com Thanks to everyone who made me feel so welcome.

The traffic in New York City yesterday was insane. Brain-splittingly insane. To amuse myself, I looked for things to take pictures of. And I found this:

Image hosted by TinyPic.com This is a group of traffic cops in training. We were lost in Queens at this point, so we asked them for directions. They did not know how to get us where we were going. I guess it was the first day. What is the collective noun for such a gathering? A signal of traffic cops? A misdirection of traffic cops? A gridlock of traffic cops?

I forget to mention that I visited the new location of my favorite NYC bookstore, Books of Wonder yesterday. It is now teamed with the Cupcake Cafe. You should visit there right now and buy books and eat cupcakes.

48 Replies to “Friday afternoon frustrations”

  1. Hey it’s me tracy from Long Island City High School

    Heyy Laurie!! How you doing? I’m glad you came to our school because it was really a blast! I was so very happy i got to meet you and be able to see that basically the whole entire book is about you! I hope everyone else who was at the reading enjoyed it also! i can’t wait till your new book comes out! Anyway’s I hope everything goes well. If anything can you email me at: Callmepiglet@aol.com. Okayy bye Laurie! Oh yea Happy re-lated Birthday i hope you had fun.

    Sincerely, Tracy Chavarro

  2. Hey it’s me tracy from Long Island City High School

    Heyy Laurie!! How you doing? I’m glad you came to our school because it was really a blast! I was so very happy i got to meet you and be able to see that basically the whole entire book is about you! I hope everyone else who was at the reading enjoyed it also! i can’t wait till your new book comes out! Anyway’s I hope everything goes well. If anything can you email me at: Callmepiglet@aol.com. Okayy bye Laurie! Oh yea Happy re-lated Birthday i hope you had fun.

    Sincerely, Tracy Chavarro

  3. Hey it’s me tracy from Long Island City High School

    Heyy Laurie!! How you doing? I’m glad you came to our school because it was really a blast! I was so very happy i got to meet you and be able to see that basically the whole entire book is about you! I hope everyone else who was at the reading enjoyed it also! i can’t wait till your new book comes out! Anyway’s I hope everything goes well. If anything can you email me at: Callmepiglet@aol.com. Okayy bye Laurie! Oh yea Happy re-lated Birthday i hope you had fun.

    Sincerely, Tracy Chavarro

  4. The sweet isn’t so sweet without the sour…

    Sounds like you had a rough day. Atleast Long Island City High School didn’t have “Western day” today like my highscool–some crazy-fun day the PTA mothers dreamed up–and atleast some freshmen didn’t drop a cup of hot coffee onto your bran-spanken-new running shoes.

    My day wasn’t the best, either.

    Make you feel any better?:)

  5. The sweet isn’t so sweet without the sour…

    Sounds like you had a rough day. Atleast Long Island City High School didn’t have “Western day” today like my highscool–some crazy-fun day the PTA mothers dreamed up–and atleast some freshmen didn’t drop a cup of hot coffee onto your bran-spanken-new running shoes.

    My day wasn’t the best, either.

    Make you feel any better?:)

  6. The sweet isn’t so sweet without the sour…

    Sounds like you had a rough day. Atleast Long Island City High School didn’t have “Western day” today like my highscool–some crazy-fun day the PTA mothers dreamed up–and atleast some freshmen didn’t drop a cup of hot coffee onto your bran-spanken-new running shoes.

    My day wasn’t the best, either.

    Make you feel any better?:)

  7. Insurance companies suck. Last April it took them forever to renew my membership and I couldn’t get my medication for a few days. Me without my medication, even if it’s only for a couple days, is a disaster.

  8. Insurance companies suck. Last April it took them forever to renew my membership and I couldn’t get my medication for a few days. Me without my medication, even if it’s only for a couple days, is a disaster.

  9. Insurance companies suck. Last April it took them forever to renew my membership and I couldn’t get my medication for a few days. Me without my medication, even if it’s only for a couple days, is a disaster.

  10. Re: The sweet isn’t so sweet without the sour…

    Ha. A couple weeks ago we had “dress like your favorite professor” day. Almost all of our professors dress exactly the same for work.

  11. Re: The sweet isn’t so sweet without the sour…

    Ha. A couple weeks ago we had “dress like your favorite professor” day. Almost all of our professors dress exactly the same for work.

  12. Re: The sweet isn’t so sweet without the sour…

    Ha. A couple weeks ago we had “dress like your favorite professor” day. Almost all of our professors dress exactly the same for work.

  13. Hey, it could be worse…..you could be teaching/listening to Beginning Band for 28 years! LOL! ;} TQuirk

  14. Hey, it could be worse…..you could be teaching/listening to Beginning Band for 28 years! LOL! ;} TQuirk

  15. Hey, it could be worse…..you could be teaching/listening to Beginning Band for 28 years! LOL! ;} TQuirk

  16. I loved Cupcake Cafe when I recently visited Books Of Wonder (well, maybe not so recently – it was February). I’m sad now that I didn’t buy a treat for myself!

    You have inspired me to list my frustrations for today, – later though. I think if I list mine now I’ll burst into tears. let’s think of good things instead – like Cupcakes! 🙂

    *hugs* Hope your day is better!

  17. I loved Cupcake Cafe when I recently visited Books Of Wonder (well, maybe not so recently – it was February). I’m sad now that I didn’t buy a treat for myself!

    You have inspired me to list my frustrations for today, – later though. I think if I list mine now I’ll burst into tears. let’s think of good things instead – like Cupcakes! 🙂

    *hugs* Hope your day is better!

  18. I loved Cupcake Cafe when I recently visited Books Of Wonder (well, maybe not so recently – it was February). I’m sad now that I didn’t buy a treat for myself!

    You have inspired me to list my frustrations for today, – later though. I think if I list mine now I’ll burst into tears. let’s think of good things instead – like Cupcakes! 🙂

    *hugs* Hope your day is better!

  19. Thank you.

    I wanted to personally thank you for responding to my letter and with such speed. You are so dedicated to the fans of your books that you actually take time out of your day to respond to us and you really listen to what we have to say. It makes me feel very good to know that there is an author out there who is so down to earth and not stuck up after the fame of a book.

    And for the record, insurance companies suck! You never truly get what you pay for. They are such a mess and unorganized.

    Jessica.

  20. Thank you.

    I wanted to personally thank you for responding to my letter and with such speed. You are so dedicated to the fans of your books that you actually take time out of your day to respond to us and you really listen to what we have to say. It makes me feel very good to know that there is an author out there who is so down to earth and not stuck up after the fame of a book.

    And for the record, insurance companies suck! You never truly get what you pay for. They are such a mess and unorganized.

    Jessica.

  21. Thank you.

    I wanted to personally thank you for responding to my letter and with such speed. You are so dedicated to the fans of your books that you actually take time out of your day to respond to us and you really listen to what we have to say. It makes me feel very good to know that there is an author out there who is so down to earth and not stuck up after the fame of a book.

    And for the record, insurance companies suck! You never truly get what you pay for. They are such a mess and unorganized.

    Jessica.

  22. Here’s another thought that should cheer you up…….whenever you feel down in the dumps and nothing could possibly be worse, just think of hubby picking up his old trumpet and practicing again while you’re trying to write….he,he,he,he. (sorry B.H., couldn’t resist – insert the playing of Down, Down the Field at this time……)

  23. Here’s another thought that should cheer you up…….whenever you feel down in the dumps and nothing could possibly be worse, just think of hubby picking up his old trumpet and practicing again while you’re trying to write….he,he,he,he. (sorry B.H., couldn’t resist – insert the playing of Down, Down the Field at this time……)

  24. Here’s another thought that should cheer you up…….whenever you feel down in the dumps and nothing could possibly be worse, just think of hubby picking up his old trumpet and practicing again while you’re trying to write….he,he,he,he. (sorry B.H., couldn’t resist – insert the playing of Down, Down the Field at this time……)

  25. Hello!

    In English, I was just assigned to give an oral report on my favorite author and a novel that he/she has written. You are definitely my favorite author so I’ve chosen to give a speech about you and Speak. I’ve found all of the required information (from your website) except for some things about your parents. Were they writers as well? Did they have a great influence on your writing? I’m sorry if it was included in your biography and I missed it, I’m not very good with the internet!

  26. Hello!

    In English, I was just assigned to give an oral report on my favorite author and a novel that he/she has written. You are definitely my favorite author so I’ve chosen to give a speech about you and Speak. I’ve found all of the required information (from your website) except for some things about your parents. Were they writers as well? Did they have a great influence on your writing? I’m sorry if it was included in your biography and I missed it, I’m not very good with the internet!

  27. Hello!

    In English, I was just assigned to give an oral report on my favorite author and a novel that he/she has written. You are definitely my favorite author so I’ve chosen to give a speech about you and Speak. I’ve found all of the required information (from your website) except for some things about your parents. Were they writers as well? Did they have a great influence on your writing? I’m sorry if it was included in your biography and I missed it, I’m not very good with the internet!

  28. Re: Hello!

    Good questions! We should probably put that information in there. My mother was a secretary and a clothing store manager when I was growing up. My father was a minister who loves to write poetry. I got the writing bug from him.

  29. Re: Hello!

    Good questions! We should probably put that information in there. My mother was a secretary and a clothing store manager when I was growing up. My father was a minister who loves to write poetry. I got the writing bug from him.

  30. Re: Hello!

    Good questions! We should probably put that information in there. My mother was a secretary and a clothing store manager when I was growing up. My father was a minister who loves to write poetry. I got the writing bug from him.

  31. Re: Hello!

    Thank you so much! I also agree with Jessica; it is great how down to earth and caring you are of your fans. 🙂

    mmm cupcakes… I wish they had a Cupcake Cafe in Michigan!

  32. Re: Hello!

    Thank you so much! I also agree with Jessica; it is great how down to earth and caring you are of your fans. 🙂

    mmm cupcakes… I wish they had a Cupcake Cafe in Michigan!

  33. Re: Hello!

    Thank you so much! I also agree with Jessica; it is great how down to earth and caring you are of your fans. 🙂

    mmm cupcakes… I wish they had a Cupcake Cafe in Michigan!

  34. Your My Insperation

    Dear Writter Lady,

    My name is Mariah Schmidt. I am 13 years old. When i was seven,
    my brother’s dad molested me in a way i will never forget. After i watched your movie on lifetime, the movie inspired me to read the book. Well, i loved the movie and the book. Good Work Mrs. Anderson! Anywho, i would just like to tell you that your work has inspired me to tell people what happened to me six years ago. Now i feel like i can talk to you. My email is xxxracergirl4lifexxx@yahoo.com I would really like to hear from you.

    Sinceraly,
    Mariah

  35. Your My Insperation

    Dear Writter Lady,

    My name is Mariah Schmidt. I am 13 years old. When i was seven,
    my brother’s dad molested me in a way i will never forget. After i watched your movie on lifetime, the movie inspired me to read the book. Well, i loved the movie and the book. Good Work Mrs. Anderson! Anywho, i would just like to tell you that your work has inspired me to tell people what happened to me six years ago. Now i feel like i can talk to you. My email is xxxracergirl4lifexxx@yahoo.com I would really like to hear from you.

    Sinceraly,
    Mariah

  36. Your My Insperation

    Dear Writter Lady,

    My name is Mariah Schmidt. I am 13 years old. When i was seven,
    my brother’s dad molested me in a way i will never forget. After i watched your movie on lifetime, the movie inspired me to read the book. Well, i loved the movie and the book. Good Work Mrs. Anderson! Anywho, i would just like to tell you that your work has inspired me to tell people what happened to me six years ago. Now i feel like i can talk to you. My email is xxxracergirl4lifexxx@yahoo.com I would really like to hear from you.

    Sinceraly,
    Mariah

  37. WATS WITH TEH FACES?

    Dear laurie i am one of ure biggest fans. but i must wonde ry is it that most of your books only show half or part of teh face? if u can get back t ome plz do.

    ure biggest fan
    Josie Bright

  38. WATS WITH TEH FACES?

    Dear laurie i am one of ure biggest fans. but i must wonde ry is it that most of your books only show half or part of teh face? if u can get back t ome plz do.

    ure biggest fan
    Josie Bright

  39. WATS WITH TEH FACES?

    Dear laurie i am one of ure biggest fans. but i must wonde ry is it that most of your books only show half or part of teh face? if u can get back t ome plz do.

    ure biggest fan
    Josie Bright

  40. Re: WATS WITH TEH FACES?

    The marketing department decides what to put on the cover, not the author. I am happy to point out that my newest book, PROM, does not have any face or body parts on the cover!

  41. Re: WATS WITH TEH FACES?

    The marketing department decides what to put on the cover, not the author. I am happy to point out that my newest book, PROM, does not have any face or body parts on the cover!

  42. Re: WATS WITH TEH FACES?

    The marketing department decides what to put on the cover, not the author. I am happy to point out that my newest book, PROM, does not have any face or body parts on the cover!

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