Happy Anniversary, Deena and Greg!

This paper isn't writing itself. Bad paper. No cookie.

Happy Anniversary, Deena & Greg!

I'm a feedback whore, really.

Oh, me too. My next RWA chapter meeting is going to be on how to give helpful and productive critiques, so they wanted five people to volunteer to bring in the first 7 pages of our WIP. I didn't see the email until an hour and a half after Heather the program chair posted it, and I was just sure I was going to be too late.

I was the second person to sign up. And Heather thanked me for being brave. I'm like, "Are you kidding? With stuff like this, I'm Hermione Granger, practically bouncing out of the chair as I wave my hand around and cry, 'Pick me! Pick me!'"

And I'm getting better at receiving negative feedback without going all prickly and defensive. I think I got spoiled all the way through college because I do have a certain degree of natural writing talent and because I'd mastered the art of the three-page case study and the ten-page term paper. So it took me awhile to adjust when I started writing fiction seriously, and instead of hearing, "Ohmigod, you're SO TALENTED," heard, "Nice historical voice, smooth writing style, but where's the conflict? And what's your character's goal in this scene? Are you sure about your POV choice?"

But now that I've accepted that I can't make it on raw talent alone, I'm actually trying to learn something from the criticism. Hence my jumping on the chance to be a critique guinea pig at my RWA meeting. And I'm entering writing contests again. I'm even using them as incentive to finish other work. Starting today I'm going through the marketing program from this book: [link] If I meet my program goals, my reward is that I get to enter two contests in April instead of just the one I'd already planned on.

I sleep on memory foam. It is the Best. Thing. Ever.

HOWEVER, cheap memory foam can stop squishing after a year or so. We stopped buying Tempurpedic knockoffs at Costco because they didn't last.

I bought an "Absolute Comfort" memory-foam mattress here: [link]

They claim to use exactly the same foam as TP, and it's lasted two years already.

I bought an "Absolute Comfort" memory-foam mattress here: [link]

I think that's what Overstock.com is selling. The graphics, prices and descriptions look very similar.

Cashmere, my Dad hasn't been needing heart-ma for a while, so your Mom may have it all.

The waiting part just sucks. There's not much you can do to distract yourself, and I swear the clock actually moves more slowly when you're waiting.

Let me just reiterate what I said when you first found out she needed this surgery: it's such a common procedure now that the risks are very minimal; after she recovers, she really will feel much better, which will hopefully help her be more active, which should keep her diabetes under better control; and the hospital she's at is a very very good cardiac hospital.

Hang in there. You'll be able to make baboon heart jokes to her soon.

Thanks, teppy.

My sister finally called. They're getting ready to close Mom up and there didn't appear to be any serious complications. With any luck, she'll be heading to recovery soon. Then five days in the hospital.

Hopefully, everyone in the house will be over this stinking virus and we can go see her this weekend.

Seekrit message to Cindy: O's diarrhea is mostly like viral (same crud we have, but it's hitting him harder because he's small). Peds nurse told me the same thing you did--watch the diet and keep him hydrated.

My sister finally called. They're getting ready to close Mom up and there didn't appear to be any serious complications.

Excellent! Wonder-Cardiac-Woman!

Great news, Cashmere!

I think that was Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. Hec?

Sure is. Do I need to make you a sixties soul mix too? The seventies is much more Pelecanos, though. Anyway, I spent most of yesterday afternoon working on your mix and Anne's mix.

Tom Petty is totally a pot-head.

eta: Huzzah for the good news on Cashmere's Mom's heart. See, I think the surgeon knew it was good mojo.