Sitting on my hands

So, I'm waiting. I hate waiting. And I haven't even started the querying yet- I've got a few typed up and I'm waiting to hear back from a few crit partners (This post is not a subtle shove in the back, critters. I really, truly want you to take your time.) I just want my book to be free of those nagging issues that bother a reader after they finish a book.

It was a good book, but...

...the MC had to be an idiot to go back for the cat.

...what about the giant squid in chapter 3? Did it make it back to the aquarium in time? (Disclaimer- there are no actual squid in my book, although they are mentioned. Did you know squids change color based on their emotional state?)

...that ending was all wrong! Wrong, I say! I wanted to rewrite the end of "Graceling" for that reason. Give me a happy ending and no loose ends!

I woke up this morning (in our upstairs bedroom) and the carpet was squishy. I vaguely remembered my little guy crying a few minutes before, so I thought, in a dream-like stupor, that he must have spilled some water in my room. And the I took another step into the bathroom and the bathmat was under water. Oh, schnikeys.

(Quick explanation: We've purchased the house from our inlaws, but they're not closing on their house until later this month, so until then we're cruelly denied use of the master bedroom. *wink* Thus, we share a Jack-and-Jill bathroom with our kids.)

It's one of those things where a few small errors add up into a big error.

Error 1- the flapper in the toilet doesn't always seal. I keep meaning to replace it, because it wastes water, but it never made it to the top of the list.

Error 2- The toilet has stopped up a few times recently for no good reason. We thought it was just a weird thing, I added more salad to everybody's plates, and thought we were good. So wrong.

Error 3- Not sure what the third error was. Nathan kept saying he should have gotten up to work out and then this never would have happened, but I think that's not really an error as much as a lucky break missed.

I think this flood was the universe telling me to get back in line or it'll give me something to really be worried about.

The kitchen ceiling is damp, but I think it's going to be okay with some paint. And the carpet is unfortunately surviving, too- I've used our spot remover vacuum to suck about three gallons of water out of it. I'm going to buy some Kool-aid for the kids and start shopping for hardwood floors.

Anyhow, between the flood and my poor kids with their raw noses and sicky-coughs, I'm not getting too much done. Oh, well. Distraction is good today! I'm going back to sitting on my hands!
Glutton for Punishment?

Something about my eye and the Ball.

Doesn't she look uber-patient?

Maybe if I wore robes, I could be patient, too. Would pajamas do?

I've checked my email no less than 500 times in the last two weeks, starting before prospective agent #1 would have received my 50 page partial submission. And now it's been almost two weeks. Not that long, I know. And there was a holiday, and I'm sure he has tons of stuff to keep him busy.

Wait a second. 

I have stuff to keep me busy too!

Back to editing I go. But I wonder...hang on a second.

Okay. I'm back. I have a great deal on airline tickets+rental car+hotel, but nothing literary or agenty in the  inbox. I need to get done and send out some query letters so I won't care so much about the individual responses.

So, I've started some research- there's a two foot tall stack of books I've checked out from the library and the details are blowing around my brain. I've only read a small chunk of one book, but it's still a start.

And I have some notecards with possible scenes for The Sequel that I've been carrying around in my purse. I need more hours to figure this stuff out, not less. Right. There's absolutely no need to be impatient. 

How do you deal with waiting? I know I'm not the only email hound.
Glutton for Punishment?