The returning podge!

Sorry for the brief absence, my head has been consumed with a new book idea, which is exciting and draining and completely taking me over. Whilst that is nice, it is basically my heads way of not wanting to confront the continual edit of the novel I've already written and am trying to find agent support for. When the going gets tough, my head gets creative!
But at the moment, I can't complain as I'm two chapters in on the new book and pretty much loving it. Don't worry, in true Helen style, I'll be hating it in two weeks, maybe less. Ah the tortured soul of a writer, seeking perfection but so far from it that you even turn against yourself.
But seriously, its been a lot of fun. I'm really enthusiastic about it and no doubt I'll be asking my dear friend L to check it out. She's my guinea pig.

I feel I need a quick rant on Mad Men, the series taking the world by storm. Now, we are currently on series 2 and I like it, but let's not confuse awesome style and sexist bastards with being the best thing on TV. It is so overrated. There is mostly no plot, there is no extra level, even though they try to squeeze one in - Draper's relationship with his father, etc - but even when they do, I feel no empathy for the guy who sleeps with four or five women per episode, one of which might happen to be his wife.
I know why the guys are raving, it's their dream of an ideal world. Women subordinate again, knowing their place, doing as they're told. Urgh! It makes my skin crawl. Most of the time I sit there fantasising about which one I'm going to punch in the face, or probably more appropriately, kick in the balls.
I think for men, the idea of sitting around, doing frick all, sipping bourbon all day and wearing awesome little suits, is such a lure that they don't give a crap what is actually going on. And that is fine! Of course. But I'd just like to know how a cigarette is the answer to everything. Someone dies.....have a cigarette. Your having an affair with three other women......doesn't matter, have a cigarette. You lose your job....heck, there's always a cigarette.
And breathe!
Apologies there, but I've been needing to do that for a while. I've probably offended loads of you that love the Mad Men, but hey, everyone's entitled to their opinion and I'm not going to stop watching it. And in a girly way, which doesn't happen for me very often. (For those of you who don't know me, I'm not a 'girly' girl at all) But oh my lord, some of the dresses are amazing. But if I had to become some slave to wear one, I think I'd stick to my jeans any day.

Ok, so lets move away from that. I kinda feel better now. You should also know I'm on the exercise front again, after not a great deal since the London Marathon 2010, which I really worked hard for and I'd never been so fit in my life. Well, things took a nose dive and I'm gaining podge again, but never fear, Helen's determination is here. I will not gain a clothes size. no! I will remain a size 10 and I will look bloody good when I'm a bridesmaid in July. Eek, might have to lose the jeans then. Ha ha.
So I've been working out and going for a run and stuff and I've done 4 work outs in the last 8 days. It's annoying though that to counteract my months of comfort eating, related to working with an evil witch and stressing about the book, it's gonna take more than a week of working out. He he. Does anyone else feel like it should be instantaneous? Like the moment you start to work out, you should literally see the difference? You should literally see the fat dropping off? No? That's just me. Ah well. I can dream!

Eek, Have to leave for work in approximately 23 minutes and am still sat in my pyjamas. I will flitter off and return soon.

Have a decent middle of your working week!

Ciao for now.
Helen
xx