Iraq and the Waiting Game

Today is a mixed bag. On on hand, you've got the fact that its Friday. That alone is cause for celebration for some ( my apologies to those who work weekends and their 'Friday' isn't until mid week ). But for me also I know my father is shipping out to Iraq this weekend / today for a 13 month tour. I spoke with him on the phone last night. I'm real proud of my Dad, he's a really cool guy in a lot of ways. He's started several start up businesses, got them successful then sold them; that alone is hard and not many pull it off. Also, he used to write ( guess that's where I get it from! ) and his stuff was good; never could understand why he didn't try to get any of his poetry published. Now he's heading overseas ... I'm proud he's helping -- very much so in fact. I understand its a very important thing he's doing and its an adventure. Like he said, there is so many historical sites there to see, so much history there that could be absorbed.

But... I can't help but worry. Don't get me wrong, I don't think my Dad will have an attack of the stupids, he's a razor sharp cookie; he'll not do anything stupid. Its just hard to think about a family member going into a hot zone like that, even if you understand the 'whys'. I'm keeping the faith he'll be fine.

Aside from that, I understand it'll take up to three months to hear back from the magazine I sent that short story to. The waiting is the tough part. You always hear, "well go work on another manuscript", and I do. But when I walk by that mailbox... I can't help but wonder "Is today the day?"

On a lighter note, I set up a cafepress store: ( my apologies for the shameless plug ) http://www.cafepress.com/KoanStore

Right now its got graphics related to Kinloch with the exception of that one Sume ink painting I painted and scanned in. I was thinking of perhaps getting several more paintings done , scanned and uploaded. Sell prints I suppose ( if I can get the traffic through there! ).