Shew

After working most of yesterday on it, I pared the book down to >188,000 words. I think when it's properly finished, it'll actually be closer to 200,000 words. I'm trying to get that done by the end of the week, think I should be able to do that.

Working

Editing the fuck out of the epic. I have trimmed it from over 500,000 words to over 350,000 words, now. That's a lot of work! Getting it all sparkly for slinging out to publishers. Big-ass book.

Postal

Is the US Postal Service (USPS) getting less reliable or what? Or does Chicago just have exceptionally bad service? I mean, I've known that Chicago's had a crappy system, but lately, it seems to be getting crappier, especially in terms of lost bills and so forth. It's getting ridiculous, is making me think I need to just have everything be paid online. I just hate that I can't rely on something that should, in theory, be both straightforward and reliable. WTF? It's just incredibly frustrating, because I'm doing my part, getting things mailed out in time, but they're not getting to their destinations, and then I'm the one left holding the bag, despite it being the USPS that boned things up.

Bahah

"Who do you have to dickslap to get some bread around here?"

Asshole For Hire from James Van Der Beek

Tallies

So, looks like I stubbed my toes 89 times last year (counting from March to end of the year): 55 left toe stubs, 34 right toe stubs.

Battle not with editors...

...lest you become one...



Seriously, this is why all editors go insane, eventually.

WTF?

Okay, if I know you, and you own these, please tell me, so that I can not be friends with you anymore. These just may be the lamest shoes, ever...

Hipster Holidays

I'm not the only one irritated by the "Hipster Christmas" Hyundai ads...

Pomplamoose Pimps Hyundais

I would like to bludgeon the twee mofo in this with those jingle bells he's brandishing. Kinda like this...

*JING* SMASH *JING* SMASH *JING* SMASH

And then put'em in the trunk of a Hyundai and drive it off a bridge.

"HO HO HO!"

2011

Well, hello, there, 2011. Funny to hear the wind howling outside this morning -- it was 54 degrees yesterday, and today's high is 27 degrees. Out with the old, in with the new.

And away we go...

So much for 2010. A curious year for me, really. Quiet, compared with the turbulent 2008, and the dreadful 2009. 2010 began as a stalemate, transitioned to something better. Kind of odd, the passage of these past few years, relative to the long slog of the years before them.

I'm ready for you, 2011. Bring it!

Shouting Match

Last night, way early, maybe 3 a.m. (?) I overheard a couple arguing somewhere in the building. They were really going at it. From their voices, it sounded like a couple of 20-somethings arguing. The guy said at one point, referencing the fire escape "There's a real quick elevator for you, right there." The gal said some stuff, but I couldn't hear it, and then later, I heard the guy yell "Stop striking me!" Which seemed kind of a prissy way of putting it. "Striking?" I think some cops came at some point, because I heard a third voice there, and the guy calmed down, and the gal quieted down. My sense was that the guy was the primary asshole in the confrontation, although they were both probably drunk (since usually the 3-4 a.m. loud confrontations like that are when the bars close, and folks head home).

Wow.

It's amazing that the year's almost over. What a year it's been, too. I'm thinking 2011 will be a much better year, across the board. I'm certainly working to make it so.

It's around 41 degrees right now. That's also kind of amazing, since we're nearly into January. WTF?!

B1's 9th birthday is coming up, too. I got him some great presents. I'm excited for him to get them, as I think he'll dig'em.

This and that

I mailed out the Fantasy novel this morning. Yay! Hopefully something'll come of it. One of the liabilities of my current printer is the thing has dinky inkjet cartridges. I think the next time I print out something substantive, I'll go to Kinko's. I didn't want to have to do that this go'round, however.

I picked up the boys this afternoon, and they're chilling out with me.

Made spaghetti with a homemade marinara sauce tonight. Yum! My boys won't touch the stuff. Some day, they'll actually try what I cook, and they'll realize that I'm a good cook!