Friday Update, 9/25

• I don't like to use my blog to whine, but to be perfectly honest it wasn't the best of weeks. I started out trying to lick the last remnants of the flu as I waited for my agent to get back to me on my second submission of my work-in-progress, THE COUSINS' CLUB.

Understand that it was something like my twentieth draft and I'd been working like a dog. I know I'm onto something incredibly special here and was hoping my agent would say that I nailed it.

Alas, it wasn't the conversation I had been hoping for. She agrees that there's something there--something unique and fresh and breathtaking--but I haven't found the doorway inside. Pretty hard to put into words how devastated I was. Normally I handle these things better, but it's bad timing for me, as I didn't have the emotional, physical or financial resources to cope with the news.

Also, I blame some of this moodiness on the fact that I've been unable to exercise. I got pretty accustomed to those endorphins.

• I attended Back to School night at the high school and middle school this week. It was good to meet the kids' teachers, but hard for me because these were evening events and my body was reminding me that I'm still recovering and should be spending my nights under the covers with a cup of tea.

• Took a little me time this week and met my friend Saralee Rosenberg at an excellent and inspiring book talk by the author of 50 IS THE NEW FIFTY, Suzanne Braun Levine. If you don't know who she is, think Ms. Magazine. She was a founding editor, and is currently a speaker on women and family issues, as well as contributing editor of More Magazine. The talk was moderated by my friend Debbi Honorof, and sponsored by The Transition Network.

Ellen Meister, Suzanne Braun Levine, Saralee Rosenberg

• No joke--I got myself a staple gun and some fabric and am reupholstering my dining room chairs. I may be dangerous.

• Just finished reading THE BOOK OF JOE by Jonathan Tropper. Wonderful novel--funny and warm and smart. I'm dying to read his new book, THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU. My reading pile is insane but I'll get around to it one of these days/weeks/months.

• My brother, Stephen Meister, was on the Bulls and Bears show at Fox Business News again, discussing the real estate market. He's like Donald Trump with honest hair. Take a look:



• Looking forward to having family and friends over for Break the Fast on Monday night. Meanwhile, I wish all my Jewish friends a sweet New Year, an easy fast and all good things. Peace.