Monthly Archives: January 2010

“Sandrine told me that you got a book published: how wonderful! I’m going back to school to study nursing.”

I stood in the preschool playground trying my hardest to work out any rational link between the woman’s two statements. I had no clue what she presently did, and only knew her because her daughter shared Tallulah’s nanny, Sandrine last year. We occasionally bumped into each other when picking them up.

I finally gave up my mental calisthenics and said the first thing I could come up with, “That’s fabulous! Is that going to be difficult?” The woman lit up and started chatting away about unemployment benefits. Which I had even less to say about. But I smiled and nodded in the universal language of “I have no clue what you are saying.” READ MORE…

Last Monday I emailed Hachette a big translation I had been working on for them. That is the last translation job I’m going to take.

I spent the last week grading exam papers, and, after giving a further round of exams this Wednesday, will grade another pile of papers and hand them in by Friday. And then I will be done at the university.

So next Monday, January 11, 2010, I will start my new career. As a writer. Excuse me while I do a little dance. READ MORE…