Monday, February 9, 2009

Zodiac

Gung Hay Fat Choy!
According to the Chinese zodiac, we are now entering the Year of the Ox. I, for one, am all for it, considering the Ox is thought to be the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. Furthermore, the Ox is not extravagant, the modern interpretation being that the thought of living off credit cards or being in debt makes The Ox nervous. The Year of The Economic Stimulus Plan, Obama, change and more than a little plodding. I'm taking this year and this bull by the horns, baby!
This past weekend my mom and I took Zoey to Chinatown. I used to love going there when I was little. My brother would get a Transformer before there was such a thing, and I would get a silken-faced China doll that I would make my mother turn toward the wall at bedtime. (More than meets the eye.) We would get a new pair of satin pajamas and bags of creamy, soft White Rabbit Candy, the slips of rice paper melting on our tongues like something you are not supposed to do, something you are not supposed to eat. However, this weekend there was no White Rabbit Candy, having been recalled for containing trace amounts of melamine. And the crowds were horrendous. I had not been to Chinatown in maybe 15 years, and the one day my mom and I decide to take Zoey is the day of the Chinese New Year parade, fireworks cracking and bundles of yellow balloons that made Zoey cry as they slipped from her hands and into the sky.

However, I am hoping this means something, something auspicious. The fact that we went to Chinatown the day of the celebration of a new year, that we got home hours later wearing new pajamas and Chinese slippers that smelled of kerosene despite Tide and Bounce and rosewater mists. The beginning of the Year of the Ox, unswervingly patient, capable of enduring any amount of hardship, a year full of people that when they set their mind on something it is hard for them to be convinced otherwise.
Because this weekend I also got an agent. As in literary. As in "you'll have to speak with my..." It's for a children's book that I have written. While it is officially the Year of the Ox, I was born under the starry skies of the Rat, a sign as much known for its charisma as it is for its ambition. Rats are unapologetic promoters of their own agendas. (Professions include espionage, pathology and writing.)
That is, if you believe in that sort of thing. And right about now, all I have is a belief.
So cheers to a New Year! May the paper melt sweet in our mouths.

31 comments:

ZDub said...

Yay! I know it is gonna work out for you because you are fabulous!

Erin said...

Congrats again on the agent!
I *love* your and Zoey's matching PJ's and the parasol.

I ♥ You said...

wahoooooo!!!!! when one door closes....

so happy for you! can't wait to hear more about this book!

Courtney said...

CONGRATS!!! And you know what, next time any of those ugly Anons say something out of line, you tell them to talk to your agent!

So so happy for you!

Anonymous said...

Good for you! The photo of you and Zoey in your pj's should be on the back jacket cover! congratulations

Regardez Moi said...

WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Congrats mama!!

those pictures are amazing.

Anonymous said...

So now I can have my agent call your agent so we can "do" lunch!

I'm so so so so so so (so many "so's") proud of you!

LOVE,

bro

Charlee said...

Congratulations! That is a big, big deal!

Lara said...

YAY!!!!

Anonymous said...

That is totally amazing! I know this is your year! You're so talented and bound for success! I hope you won't be too famous to still write your blog, though :-)

krista said...

i used to dress up as a china doll in authentic chinese clothes for halloween when i was little (way before i was old enough to realize how utterly WHITE this was of me) and i, too, was born in the year of the rat.
from now on, i'm going to pretend you're my cool alter ego.

Petunia said...

You have an agent now?? Oh, so very damn cool! Maybe one day you might share how you got said agent. I have a few children's stories I might like to publish. Be sure to update your info with prospective employer guy. He needs to be gong through your agent to get to you now! Hahaha! I am a Rat baby, too. We're very groovy peepes.

Unknown said...

Agents are brokers. You are a writer.

Unknown said...

Congrats! So, we'll all be able to say we knew you when. I'm so excited for you!

Petunia Face said...

Thank you everyone! I am beyond excited but also know that this is just the first of many Bill Murray baby steps toward realizing one of my dreams. And I also know I honestly couldn't have done it without the support of this blog, or you. :)

Petunia said...

Thank you much for coming to visit my blog and for your kind comment. If you are interested in what we are doing to get Cande Nast to leave the Domino website up or to even turn it into an online magazine, let me know. They have made it known that the printing presses have been turned off so, this is our last front to fight on.

Visual Vamp said...

You all needed to be at my dinner party!
xo xo

mamacita said...

Good work, Mr. Literary Man, hitching your wagon to Susannah's star.

Jessie said...

From one fellow rat to another...

My heart just swelled (swoll?) at the thought of your success. You and dear Zoe are an absolute vision, and I can't wait to hear more about these new developments!

Have your agent call me if you need any PR for your midwestern book signing tour! (I'm planning it all out in my head!)

WE BELIEVE IN YOU, SUS!

jae said...

I am beyond excited for you. I will wait anxiously for the day I can order a signed copy!

Aartee said...

Congratulations!!! I am loving the fun pajamas Zoey is too cute!

Thao said...

So exciting! I can't wait to see your work in print someday soon!

Mrs. Blandings said...

I'm over the moon for you - it couldn't be more deserved. The beginning of something really terrific. Congratulations.

Richie Designs said...

That is amazing! congrats

Minxy Mimi said...

Congrats to you!!!
I hope this year is a year of promise for us all.

nicole said...

how exciting! congrats! go ox!

SGM said...

YAY! Congratulations, Susannah!

Michelle {lovely little things} said...

Those pictures are great, she looks so darling in that getup! Gorgeous

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! Well deserved. :)

Robin said...

That is so wonderful! The post and the agent thing, of course. Congrats!!

tangobaby said...

This is totally crazy gorgeous, those photos of you and your beautiful curly haired girl. And your agent! How exciting!