I have a need...and it's not for speed.

If all the forces of the Universe come together in my favor, I will be launching a grand re-opening of my website/blog next week.

You've heard me say it many times before, I'm dyslexic. I get good feedback on my quite conversational writing style but my brain just will not let me get words in print without errors. It's maddening and, occasionally, humiliating.

I need to do a LOT of writing in the near future both for the site pages and the blog. Ultimately, a lot of this material will end up in my much discussed, yet tragically overdue, book.

Here is the deal.

I need an inexpensive and rigorous editor, with a sense of humor, who will keep me from embarrassing myself in front of the folks to whom I am marketing and offering my services. A little whip cracking would not go amiss.

The current website, which Deena did great work on setting up, is [link]. The new one is rebranded and only slightly different, but will include a blog on the front page that I will need to feed regularly.

If you would be interested in correcting my errors and asking questions like, "Uh. It this what you really meant to say?" please drop me a line at my profile addy to kick off the conversation.

Also, if you are interested in bartering for phone coaching, we can set up an agreement that I guarantee will offer you a tremendous value.

Thanks for thinking about it!

eta: I was going to fix the typo but thought better of it. Best to illustrate how much I need help!

If you are not on the Somervillian e-mail list and you are going to be in the MA area on New Year's Day, send me an e-mail to my profile address, and I will be sure to invite you to our get together at our place.

Slacker Secret Santas!

You've slacked up until the last day, which is today. If you don't send me any info by midnight, board time, you won't be able to play this year and will have to wait for a whole year in order to be able to join the fun, and, oh, my goodness, I'm turning Santa into a Jewish mommy, so I'll stop now.

Amby hammocks recalled after 2 suffocation deaths.

Gaming announcement: we're about to commence a session of the Battlestar Galactica board game in the Gaming thread. We've done this twice already, with two Cylon victories; third time lucky for the human team? The game supports up to six players. We have five people signed up and ready to go, which means there's one slot left open. Is there anyone interested in joining in?

Basic synopsis: this is a team game. Most players are humans, but there are also hidden Cylons working against them. Deceit, mistrust and betrayal are part and parcel of the gaming experience. It's often praised for the way it integrates theme into the game play. It seems to work quite well in a forum setting.

Commitment level: I'm asking that people check in at least once a day. However, the game will run over the holiday season, and we expect occasional delays. It's likely the game will take a couple of months at least to reach a conclusion.

If you think you'd like to give it a shot, come to the Gaming thread to sign up (first come first served). If you have any questions about the game or what's involved, you can ask in-thread or drop me an email.

Slacker Secret Santas: all of you who e-mailed me should have an e-mail with a giftee name and snail-mail address.

Please let me know if there's any problem.

Thanks for playing!

Not-so-tiny Jewish not-Santa.

I write about the holidays(and, honestly, a few other things) on Daily Kos. [link] (If you get the History Channel, please watch "The People Speak"...it's awesome)

Post up on Romancing the Blog today about the documentary Latin Music USA and how it can relate to writing or any other artistic pursuit. It's a recycled post from my personal blog, but a pretty good one I thought.

I'm being inverviewed by Doug Henwood on his WBAI (Pacifica) program in NYC city shortly after 5:00 P.M NY time. (Thursday Dec 17th.) There will eventually be a podcast, which I will link when it is up.

Over 700 online retailers are offering free shipping today (Thursday, December 17): [link]