Of a four-author team, how many do you think showed up for yesterday's conference call about the book being 6 weeks behind schedule? That's right: one. ARRGGHH. One who didn't show is dealing with his father, who's very ill; besides, he's one of the most responsible authors, so I'm not worried about him. Mr. Conflict of Interest didn't show, of course, and the fourth guy just . . . who knows? He never responded to Kid Manager's e-mail about the meeting.
Six weeks might not sound critical, but the problem is the publication date. With the original schedule, the book would have been published July 1, which is good positioning to sell to colleges for the fall semester (also the biggest time for sales). Making that July 1 pub date now is doubtful. August 1 might be possible, but not if these authors continue turning everything in late. Of course, their dragging their feet puts more pressure on me to turn work around way faster than normal to try to make up for lost time. Thanks! Love you authors, too!
How much does an intercom system cost? Through some freakish combination of architecture and sound waves, you can't hear a thing from downstairs when you're upstairs in my house, unless you're standing next to a heating vent. A Shriner parade complete with tiny motorcycles and a high school marching band could tromp through the downstairs, and I'd never know it if I were upstairs. I'm usually downstairs, but Kevin and Daniel are often upstairs, Daniel in his room and Kevin in the art room. So when they get a phone call or I need them for something, I have to yell up the stairs for them because I'm not going to hike up and down that damn spiral staircase 40 times a day (although I'd have thighs of steel if I did). I've about had it with yelling, waiting, bellowing louder, waiting some more, and repeating ad nauseum. (On the plus side, if anyone holds a Ma Kettle contest, I'm a shoe-in to win.) I can't afford to install a professional intercom, but surely Radio Shack has a fairly inexpensive gadget? I need to look into that before my vocal cords give out.
I just checked movie listings for the theater we usually go to in Indianapolis and noticed that matinee prices are good only until 4:00. Don't most theaters offer matinee prices until 6:00, or has that changed? Money-grubbing bastards. Of course, both movies I want to see start at 4:05. Hmmmph! See if I feel guilty for sneaking my own snacks in.
3 comments:
Our local cinemas have the 6 o'clock cut-off time. But we usually go to the late shows, which is after 10 or 11 or just if the movie runs until after midnight.
What movie are you going to see?
Forget intercoms. Get one of those canned-air powered horns, and let 'em know it's one short blast for Kevin, two for Daniel, and one long one means "Haul your butts down here right now! Both of you!!"
Just kidding. You should be able to find something at Radio Shack for about $50, maybe less.
Tuesday and Saturday, our cinemas have "early bird" shows (before 10 am) for $4. The matinee runs until 6 pm, and it's $5.50. They sat up all night deciding between $5 and $6...
And never mind the popcorn: go for the giant size box of Junior Mints!
oh I always smuggle in rice cakes with chocolate on top and my own drinks... I work on a if-it'll-take-a-second-mortgage-to-buy-it-then-u-can-keep-it policy!! But this extending publication dates thing is driving me nuts... I have been waiting for Julie Andrews autobiography for years... i was told I could preorder it in 2003 when it was due to be published in October of that year... 4 years on and the new schedule date for publication date gets put back everytime I go into amazon.co.uk... spare a thought for the readers u selfish authors!! :-)
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