Well, I think I've reached final form for "Tantalus".

I can't exactly tell since I have no "first readers" to tell me if something is glaringly obvious, nor do I have a critique group willing to read through the whole thing.

Over the last couple of years I've lost literally all my friends to one reason or another, and while the ISBW forum is okay no one really goes into depth there. So I've edited it as much as I know how, but I'm not a professional editor. It's kind of hard to get any perspective and distance on it when you're basically talking to yourself.


The Grand List of Social Failure
as of February 20, 2008

Friend who I went to high school with who has known me over twenty years -- lost her job at the bookstore in the mall, I don't have her phone number any longer as it was on my cellphone that was stolen, and I have no idea where she is. She, however, has my phone number and never calls me. Count that one as
"lost contact".

Friend who moved to Atlanta and got married. New hubby doesn't like me. Haven't spoken or heard from her in about 2 1/2 years.

Scout Who Walks in Concrete Moccassins got married, but we weren't speaking anyway since I really don't appreciate being the one you only call when you're drunk, bored, and you know I'm the only one awake at that time of night. No loss there.

Comedy Friend left the place where we work and got another job, and now I don't hear from him but once in a blue moon. But to be honest I guess I'm not much on the friendly side there either. I don't jump into bed with people unless I want to, not because they're desperate. I'm not a kid anymore. I drove off that bridge a couple times already and I don't like being thought of as a slut.

Other person who used to be fairly important to me, but now has a new girlfriend and avoids me.

The CGAW, the Cute Guy at Work left the Post Awful quite some time ago, so no more eye candy. Alas.

Boo disappeared.

And that's about it.

I have several acquaintences at work who by sheer dint of us working together all these years I guess you might consider friends, but it's not like I'm at their houses or having lunch with them. Most of them I have a hard time remembering their names. I don't really know them at all.

So I guess I could spend $600 and send "Tantalus" to Christopher Vogler's story consulting operation, but that seems kind of extreme for a 36 page story.

Or just say the heck with it, it's as done as I can make it, and go ahead and podcast it. Just accept it's not as good as it could be, swallow my damned pride and just do it. Despite my determination to not release material that isn't in the best shape it can be in.

*sigh*