8 Theories as to Why I’ve Been in a Shitty Mood All Week

Sorry to be MIA, folks. I’ve just been — out of sorts — all week and I can’t quite put a finger on why. Every day, when Sailor Boy asks what’s wrong, I don’t really have a good answer. (Of course, the answer he’s really looking for is a blinding smile and “Why, absolutely nothing, darling! Let’s go cuddle!”) So a few hypotheses I’ve put together:

1. Literary post-partum depression. I turned in my book, and the thing I’ve been solely focusing on for the past 7 months no longer occupies my mind (for another week, at least). It’s a post-adrenal crash.

2. Current events. It’s tough to be chipper with regular reports of cholera and homelessness and mass death a few states away. I think we’ve all felt the tug of worry for friends and family who have lost everything and general broken-heartedness at whatever faction of our society dropped the ball. And, if we neeed any more proof that Life Just Ain’t Fair, Larissa has returned home to Mississippi to find only death, destruction, and a rejection letter from Mills & Boon. Head over and give the girl a hug… and a shot of brandy. Also, if you have a chance, bid in the auction to help her out. There’s this hot young writer Diana Peterfreund who is offering a critique there, and she promises to be well out of her funk before she takes a pen to your manuscript.

3. It’s “that” time of the month.

4. Corollary to #1: Now that the book is done, I realize how much shit I’ve been putting off “until I finish the book” and I feel really guilty about that.

5. Not been getting enough sleep. Also, weird headaches. Sailor Boy says I’m just dehydrated. According to Sailor Boy, water is a cure-all. No matter what is ailing me, he prescribes water.

6. Four-day week. For some reason, a one-day holiday just makes the rest of the week seem even longer. I can’t even remember last weekend.

7. Maybe it’s something in the stars? I never can tell with these things, because I’m a Capricorn/Aquarius cusp (ten points for naming the famous fictional character who has my birthday). Anyway, cannot deduce what my horoscope may mean. Either of them.

8. My new project has hit a few snags. I’ve been letting it marinate, and I’m very afraid I may have bitten off more than I can chew. IT’s a great project, but, as Sailor Boy said, perhaps not soemthing I can write in five months. Or even fifteen. Which means maybe not something I should go for next. Which means back to the drawing board, and, even more difficult, shutting these people up while I develop the skills necessary to tell their story.