The Nudge Out of the Nest

After a virus scare at work - computer virus, that is - I was temporarily afraid that I'd brought hard drive damage home to my PC. But my friend from work took one of my floppies to her home PC to scan it for viruses, and I got the all-clear.

I'd been working on my submission to an agent, and I was on the downward bounce off the diving board when the work virus reared its head. A rather uncomfortable position to hold, almost pushing off the board, not really still, not really moving. But now I've felt the springback shoot me upward. I'm heading up. When my submission goes through that slot at the post office and I hear the package hit the bin, I'll feel the water breaking around my shoulders. I'll know I'm wet and there's no going back.

It's an odd position to be in, a 21st century writer unconnected to the web, running Windows 98 with an archaic Norton Antivirus that would be skewered by anything going around these days. But I'm also in the process of getting myself set up with an internet package. So many new beginnings. There must be good things about the Year of the Pig for me. Last year's Dog nipped at my heels until all my scattered lambs were accounted for and safely in their pens.

Which brings me to a lovely surprise at the check-out line at the grocery store a few hours ago. I glanced over at the magazine section to see Gerry staring boldly back at me from Men's Health magazine. That's Gerry Butler to anyone who wonders. His new flick "300" is coming out on March 9th, and he's very healthy in that one. Spartan warrior healthy in a leather loincloth and a billowing cape. Since he's the model for my vampire story, the one I'm sending out of the nest, I took it as a lovely nod from the universe that all is falling into place.