that I have other stuff to work on that's fun and keeping me from thinking 1 week, 2 weeks, etc...

and if that doesn't work, try "Good work, Wesley, good day. I'll most likely kill you in the morning." What? It's kind of working for me atm. [link]

Bwah! Duly noted, Sox.

Another no on my Defenders query. I'm starting to think about e-pubbing the thing and having done with it; as a first novel I'm proud of it but I don't know if it's likely to find an agent.

I'm starting to think about short descriptions of my graphics book, not to describe substance but style. One is "a picture book for adults" or "a picture book for grown ups". Hopefully that conveys the idea of a book with a layout and look and feel of a children's book, but with adult vocabulary and complexity of content. Hopefully the use of "adult" does not lead to an expectation of porn or sexual content. Hopefully the alternative use of "grownup" does not lead to an expectation of preciousness.

Another description is "a snarky survey of a serious topic". I'd say about one third of the book is snarky. One third tries is somewhat emotional but not funny or sarcastic, and one third use colorful metaphors to help make complicated concepts simple to understand without snark or emotional content. Is "snarky" a fair description for that amount of snark, or is it misleading?

Also, one description I rejected is "environmentalism without a stick up its ass". Is there a polite way to say that, without the false implication about other environmentalists?

Editor: "We are getting ready to move from pre-production to production. But one last problem is that you seem to have a lot of jokes in your material. We don't approve of humor in serious work. Can you take them out."

Me: : "I did not make any jokes. I clarified complicated subjects by using colorful analogies, similes and metaphors, some of which may elicit surprise in the reader."

Editor: OK.

My editor is not stupid, even if we fight on occasion. He was carrying out policy, and I think he was willing to accept any excuse not to make those cuts.

Clarification, not the graphics version described above - the academic text only version.

Ugh. I can't be getting a cold. Not this week. I'm pounding orange juice and chicken soup. Any other 'end this sooner rather than later' suggestions, please share. I have to get on a plane and then do an all-week writers' workshop next week and I do not want to be sick for it.

Pho beef noodle soup (Vietnemese). Or that Thai chili heavy soup whose name I forget, but if you go into a Thai resteraunt and tell them you are fighting a cold, and need the spicy soup, they will know what you want.

Both of these help by getting stuff up so you will have to run to the bathroom and blow your nose a lot. Or maybe you can get takeout. If you can do these at home, much better. The Pho, not all that spicy. The Thai one - only if you have a huge tolerance for hot food. I think there is a spicy Korean soup that I've been told works too, but never tried it.

I think the Thai soup is called something like Tom Yum...

Also hot showers. Vaporizor or humidifier. Hot liquids external and internal, plus cold liquids to keep well hydrated. Avoid dairy, not because it increase mucus but because it thickens it and makes it tougher to get rid of. Lots of sleep. OJ.

Thank you Typo! Totally doing the sleep thing - mmmm Tom Yum soup needs to happen.