Various and Sundry

[jjschwabach]

Bad news... my sister's dog got killed by a car Friday evening.  My already sore shoulders and neck are sorer now, even though my sister and her neighbor did most of the work.  I actually can't dig with a shovel.   Not don't know how, or shouldn't, or won't -- can't.   Can't put enough weight on my right leg to balance on it while pushing on the blade with my left, can't put any weight at all on my right leg when it's bent, so can't stand on my left leg and use the right to push down on the shovel.  So I scooped out loose dirt.    She's had Chester for 12 years, ever since he was, as she put it, "No bigger than an eggplant."  My sister's other dog was quiet and well-behaved, but didn't fully understand what was going on.  The neighbor's dog, who was a good friend of Chester, stood there while we were working and clearly understood exactly what was going on.  It was a very sad evening.

I also got another agent rejection, making for six out of six on the current round.  I'm waiting for jmeadows to get to my spot in the queue before I go for another round.  Her suggestions always seem helpful and on-point when I read what she says about others' queries so...

Because one should end on an up note:
In other news, I have made my first sale of the year (actually, last month) and will post more on that when it is up.