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.

Revision one of Cog is finished. Still several tweaks to be made in revision two, but no major changes to make.

Next step, the synopsis to get at least a rough draft done of that dreaded step. Then, revision two. Progress is being made.

Where are you going, Sox? I hope you feel better -- traveling sick SUCKS.

Yay, Gud!

Viable Paradise for a week, starting on the 9th.

I am getting Tom Yum soup for lunch tomorrow. I had chicken soup today. Also, trying to not panic. Too many things are up in the air right now, or out of my hands, or there are evil bankers. I may need to drug myself and sleep a lot and then I'll feel better.

ETA: that's awesome news Gud!

SWEET FANCY MOSES WHERE THE HELL AM I?!@?!? LOST WITHOUT NATTER! WHO HAS A GD MAP!?!?!

falls over, crawls