That's weird, Steph. Though I think my parents paid to be in a program that was also a study because they were fairly sure they would get a lot of beneit out of it (reversing heart disease, Ornish). That seemed reasonable at the time.

Susan, I'm sorry you haven't heard from the contest, but winning contests isn't your goal, publishing your book is. It would have been nice to get some validation, but I doubt the judges are going to give you terrible feedback and advise you to stop writing right now. And even if they do (which they won't), screw them, what do they know?

OK, we have signed the P&S and left a very large check with it. Eek! Thanks for the house~ma, and I'm sorry for grumpiness.

It's a nice day out. I came into work late, and am thinking about leaving early (I have enough OT hours to cover this plan) Tom and I may hang out with my high school ex-BF tonight. Weird!

Susan, I'm sorry about the contest. When you're a published novelist, you can look back and say "told ya so."

Nora, I love your tag. (For posterity's sake, it's "OMGWTFing.") Congratulations to you and Tom, and what grumpiness? You were making a major purchase. A freak-out is warranted.

(I have enough OT hours to cover this plan)

What does it say about me that I saw "OT" and immediately thought "off-topic"? Then my brain woke up from its nap and realised that didn't make sense.

I'm damn glad it's Friday.

This Kikkoman ad [note: has sound] is surreal, confusing (why does the cat hang itself? did he run out of soy sauce?), and very VERY slashy. (Though Kikkoman appears to be bisexual, as we actually see him in bed with a woman.)

This does not make me want to buy soy sauce.

I'm sorry about the contest, Susan. A similar thing happened to Edna St. Vincent Millay when she was first starting out, and no one even remembers the person who won the contest she entered. So, while I wish the contest folks had recognized your talent and skill, I don't think it says anything about whether or not a publisher will.

This Kikkoman ad [note: has sound] is surreal, confusing (why does the cat hang itself? did he run out of soy sauce?), and very VERY slashy.

Oh yeah, I've seen that. It's got to be about the strangest commercial ever.

I found it disturbing that he has a fish head, and his eyes are in the side of the fish, not the fish's head.

Go Nora with the house having and the time off taking!

Nora, take off early. You've had enough stress and deserve a treat.

I, myself, am leaving early for a last-chance-pizza-before Passover meal.

I just had a turkey pot pie for lunch. Frozen pot pies are as close to comfort food as I can get without actually consuming chocolate or booze. (Or, I suppose, pot.) Mmmmm.

Susan, I'm sorry you haven't heard from the contest, but winning contests isn't your goal, publishing your book is. It would have been nice to get some validation, but I doubt the judges are going to give you terrible feedback and advise you to stop writing right now. And even if they do (which they won't), screw them, what do they know?

I know, I know. And I've pretty much decided if I don't final at any point this year, I'm giving up on contests and spending the money on an extra writers conference or two instead, that being the other major way to bypass the slush pile and get a quick read from an editor or agent. But I still want to win, you know? I'm just hardwired to be extra-competitive.