The Why Behind The Wait (or Where's My Manuscript?)

The Winter 2007 issue of Once Upon a Time justifies the magazine's existence for the entire year with its article by Senior Executive Editor Joan Slattery of Alfred A. Knopf and Crown Books for Young Readers. In the magazine's Tag! You're It! centerspread, Slatterry chronicles one day in her editor's life, from morning drive time to the rush home to tag team the babysitter. Fascinating, telling and insightful. Kudos to Slattery for taking time from her frenetic schedule to explain the why behind the wait. If you can get your hands on a copy, do so. It's worth every penny and then some.

Current Read a Strange and Wonderul One

Assuming my headache goes away, looking forward to curling up with Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Marvelous read that's taken me several months to get through because I've read a number of other books inbetween, and the book is huge, and the print miniscule, and by the time I crawl under the covers to read at night, I often progress only a few pages before falling asleep (often with the book beside me). But all these things havn't stopped me from returning to Clarke's fantastical tale of the adventures of two gentleman magicians in 1806 England.

Colds, Peppermint Oil, and the Writer's Life

E's illness was followed closely on the heels by P who nursed a mug 'o tea most of Thanksgiving Day with my family. Now that they're both on the mend (P went to the doctor on Sunday and the antibiotics are finally kicking in), I've a snuffy nose and sinus pressure. Yeah me. Splashed a few drops of essential peppermint oil on a square of cloth last night and tacked it near my head. Amazed at how well the vapors worked at keeping my nose clear so I could breath. Unfortunately, the snuffy nose now includes a headache. Fingers are crossed that this bug packs its bags rather than taking up residence. Critique group is tomorrow and teen writer's group is Friday, and, quite frankly, I'd rather not miss either of them.

Kicking Butt, Butt in Chair, and Better Living Through Chemistry

Thanks to the medicinal effects of a kick-butt cough suppressant (one I was too sleep deprived to remember was an option for E the night before last), I slept long enough to dream last night, which means E slept long enough to dream, which means everyone is a lot less crabby today. E's fever broke, too--a sign the antibiotics are already beginning to take effect. Huzzah! This means I might actually have enough gray cells left to string together a paragraph or twenty when I sit down with KM today. Toes and fingers crossed that the trend continues. Critique group deadline looms. *Raises glass* Here's to better living through chemistry.

Congratulations! It's a Sinus Infection

The good news is we can treat E's bug with chemistry. The bad news is that I have at least one more night of sleep deprivation ahead of me.

Current read: Afternoon of the Elves by Janet Taylor Lisle.

Illnesses-What a Turkey

Did I mention E is sick? She was punky last week, but managed to stay in school. Over the weekend was another story. The congestion hit Saturday. The sore throat, hacking cough and fever arrived yesterday. We head to the doctor after I finish this post.

Shriner's Update

E left Shriner's Hospital with a walking cast on Friday. She exchanges it for a new brace on November 30th. During the interim the cast will keep E's foot in neutral (imagine the 90 degree angle your foot makes when standing), promoting her tight heel cord and hamstring to stretch. In an ideal world, the callous on E's toe will dissolve during that time as well. I was going to complain about how little butt in chair time I've had the last couple of weeks, but in comparison to what E has had to put up with lately, it's hard to gripe about any aspect of my writer's life.