Contractor Chit-Chat

I am trying to blaze through the last of my edits for the Amazon entry. Juno, of course, does not understand the concept of deadlines, and is not sure why a deadline should interfere with her all-important head scratches.

I saw True Grit with The Contractor last night. Hadn't really seen him for awhile, and I needed a break from the overhaul. Good movie.

I have never thought of myself as a particularly positive person; in fact, I'm pretty sure I'm pessimistic. But I was discussing getting his photography published -- something he's half-heartedly worked towards for awhile -- and he was dismissive. "It may look nice, but it's not professional quality."

"I say that about my work...and it gets published."

I threw it at him as a general comeback, but I realized: it's true. For all the hating I do on my writing, I had a monthly column and wrote feature articles for the magazine, and I've had two short stories win awards (small, local awards, but AWARDS dammit).

Weird, how I finally came across someone more negative about his own creation than me.

The kid is talented. He is good. I agreed to help him with the photography selling stuff when he asked (way back when) because he has definite potential and if there's money to be made...well, I'm a capitalist. Count me in!

"Potato is doing it," I said. "She talks smack on her work, too, and she's good, and she sells."

He shrugged.

Usually, I respond to his mumbled discontent with some sort of praise, since that's what tends to jar me out of my creative pits, too. But sometimes you can't bypass the negativity, so I just shook my head and told him when he wanted the help, I was there.

Sometimes that's all you can do.

I still have no idea why he hangs out with me.