I softened the last paragraph a bit to:

I’m closing our match, so please do not contact me again.

Good grief, vw. Glad you found out he was a hornytoad loser before you wasted time on the date. That sounds like a good way to close it down.

Harvey is a gorgeous dollbaby.

Happy birthday (tomorrow), Fay!

You are an inspiration to me, Susan. I'm about a third of a way through an essay that has been in three different forms and will. not. resolve. itself. It's making me crazy. Usually I can whip out a draft of an essay (2000-3000 words-ish) in a day. This week? Argh, nsm.

Well, this manuscript has been the same way. Earlier this summer I was considering abandoning it as being beyond my abilities. It's a big, plot-heavy story, projected to be a multi-volume saga (I'm thinking four books, but it could be longer or shorter--I'm not big on the pre-planning), and my previous manuscripts were all more focused and self-contained. My CPs were jumping all over me--"too much backstory," "you're just showing off your research," "nothing happens in this scene," "your protagonist is too distant and cold," "your protagonist (a real person) is too nice compared to how he comes across in the historical record," etc. They also kept asking me about the plan for the series, as if I had one. (I do, kinda, but it's more a vague sense of what each book is about and an image of the final scenes at the triumphant ending of Book 4 than anything else. They seemed to think I'd made some kind of detailed outline and knew EVERYTHING that's going to happen.)

Anyway, I finally got an idea of how to improve my opening section--but it involved starting over again when I was 60 pages of blood, sweat, and tears into the damned manuscript! I did it, but I hated it.

Hey, Callaluna, I just saw your note, and insent.

I was at the water park all day with a 6yo and 10yo, and I'm exhausted and sunburnt.

Mal and Robert didn't go because they both have stomach flu, so on top of everything else I've spent the last two night cleaning up vomit.

Can I just say that having the washer/dryer in the hallway between the bedrooms is BRILLIANT?!?!

Can I just say that having the washer/dryer in the hallway between the bedrooms is BRILLIANT?!?!

Oh, that is really smart!

Although I did see that Suzi thinks I'm chopped liver.

Oh, AmyLiz - I'm sorry - was just all jumpy at midnight and Miss Cassypants was online. Had it been you - I'd have jumped all over you. Plus, I love chopped liver, so there! Hah! All your AmyLiz's belong to ME!!!

All your AmyLiz's belong to ME!!!

Um.

No.

Poor Mal and Robert, but especially - poor Raq for having to clean up for them. I hope they're feeling better soon.

vw - I'm sorry the possibly coffee date ended up being a dud. Ah, the joys of dating.

Yay new kitten! I'm sure he's going to have a wonderful life with Kristin and Drew.

I made it out to the bbq last night and it was much more fun than I thought it would be. As is usual. But now I'm feeling hermit-like so I've just canceled my lunch and movie (Stardust) plans for today. I think I talked myself out last night.

Can I just say that having the washer/dryer in the hallway between the bedrooms is BRILLIANT?!?!

That is a great idea.

I just went out to lunch with my parents. We went to a place that has vegan and non-vegan brunch options. My mom ordered the chili-cheese tofu scramble, and was a bit dubious at first, but after trying it, she said that she likes scrambled tofu better than scrambled eggs. I told her I'd send her some recipes.

Moooooooooooooom, Lee isn't sharing the AmyLiz.