Barb, have you already written about how romance publishing seems to go in cycles? I remember the years-long fad of Baby Romances from the early-to-mid '90s, and now we have vampire/supernatural romances. I'd be interested in hearing how authors handle either writing for the fad or writing in spite of the fad and how they get published if they do the latter.

I haven't written about that, Kathy, but others have tackled the subject. I think just recently there was a column about the differences between urban fantasy and paranormal romance and how the lines are blurring.

Molly Ringwald wrote a lovely editorial about John Hughes in the New York Times.

I think I pulled something in my workout yesterday. Mild pain shoots when I twist in a normal fashion. Streams from left side of abs down towards the groin region. So don't want to work today. Blargh.

Omnis, why do you just try walking on the treadmill today (if it doesn't hurt). You still get in some exercise and don't break routine. That's the killer for me. I get on an exercise kick, something derails it for a few days (say, a back injury) and then I just stop. But, you might be better than me.

And in "I can't believe that people would pay for this" news: Gourmet Iced Coffee Maker for $30. As far as I can see, the only advantage over a $2.99 cone filter is the cooling mechanism, which you can make happen either by waiting or with a simple plastic ice cube.

Omnis, sorry to hear you pulled something. That's so frustrating.

Oy, I've been vaguely nauseated for 48 hrs now, and woke up this morning with a headache to boot. WTH, body?

Omnis, smonster, both of you recover quickly.

And in I can't believe that people would pay for this news: Gourmet Iced Coffee Maker As far as I can see, the only advantage over a $2.99 cone filter is the cooling mechanism, which you can make happen either by waiting or with a simple plastic ice cube.

For some, the fact that it costs ten times more is a feature rather than a bug.

Vortex, I am with you on that iced coffee maker, but I am reminded of a story I read maybe last summer or the one before on how to cold brew coffee for iced coffee and how wildly superior it was in taste. Tried making it, as it was easy to do (and didn't cost me a dime for the hardware), but failed to taste the difference between that and sticking the last of the hot pot in the fridge. Anyhoo that spendy set up is for the other folks who read the same article and *could* taste the difference.

My only ER visits were the time I was pushed off a wall and broke my arm (I was six) and the car accident in college. My life has been downright uneventful compared to everyone else.

Anyhoo that spendy set up is for the other folks who read the same article and *could* taste the difference.

I can taste the difference, but I still cold-brew my coffee with a plastic pitcher from the dollar store and a Melitta cone filter (about $3, but I also use them to brew hot coffee in the winter).

[eta that the cold-brewer Vortex linked to still isn't as expensive as the original Coffee Toddy, which started the cold-brew craze way back when and is basically $40 for two plastic jars stacked on top of each other with a filter in-between.]

Anyhoo that spendy set up is for the other folks who read the same article and *could* taste the difference.

I can taste the difference, but I still cold-brew my coffee with a plastic pitcher from the dollar store and a Melitta cone filter (about $3, but I also use them to brew hot coffee in the winter).

I also can definitely taste the difference in cold- vs. hot-brew, but, as noted, the equipment isn't the issue. I just use a plastic pitcher, big filter, and a bowl-sized strainer. All you have to do to cold-brew is dump cold water on top of a cup of grounds, wait 24-48 hours, and strain. Mmmmm, tasty cold coffee....