Multitasking

Am essentially working three jobs right now; teaching in two places and grooming this pile of paper on my desk (and my floor, and the hallway, and the wall.) I did make time to get my hair cut, and if I get as much done today as I plan to, I will make time tomorrow to go to this.

Living history research for book #2, which is currently another manuscript pile in here somewhere.

I don't know that I'd put "fun" in a summary statement about the Civil War, though. The shape note singing is always good, and I've never been to a re-enactment.

Soothing entertainment

Am in the home stretch of manuscript edits, all making a better book, but does require some personal spelunking, which after a full day of same, means escape. So, herewith my newest obsession.

Food Network. There's all kinds of things I don't actually eat (like meat, and am lately off dairy, sugar, large portions... pretty much anything that doesn't come with a lick of salt and a bite of lime), but I love the Food Network. And now I've discovered this, which is off the hook. And I don't even EAT cake!

Ace of Cakes. Extreme baking. I could watch that all day.

What's in my head now...

This song, sung here by Joan Baez, but sung by me and my sister at day camp. It's a metaphor about Israel, as I remember. Either way, it's pretty sad. And pretty. Ah, the good ole minor keys.

Who told you a calf to be?

Know What's Cool?

Know what's cool? I'm in the Dekalb School of the Arts Yearbook, from when I gave a talk to an assembly about being a writer.

That's really cool,and this time, I don't have to stand around on the last day of school so people can write "Luv Ya!" under my picture. Or, a personal fave from one of my OWN yearbooks - "Had a great time at Blue Oyster Cult!"

This time, I look less serious!

Thanks to my friends at Opinionarted (see blogroll, stage right, camera left) for sending the picture my way.

What fuels me?

What fuels me, here at my laptop, summer days from about 10 - 6, with one month left of ms editing ticking down on the clock?

Fresh ground coffee, with vanilla soy milk and (something I never do, but I need the jets) - sugar. Raw sugar, though. Is that better for me?
Sandalwood incense.
A magnolia blossom in a jar on my bookshelf next to a framed New Yorker cover about the very short life of books.
Flying dreams. Telling their story, and taking wing because of it.

My agent, S., rocks the house. My editor, M., also rocks the house.

The answer to all our questions...

The answer to all our questions is here. Spoiler alert - not for those without a sense of humor about religion.

Oh, and the last one? NOT how it happened!

"I love words. Thank you for hearing my words."

George Carlin's obit is in the NYTimes today. They call him a "splenetic" comedian, which means he vented his spleen. I think.

It also sounds like "frenetic," which was also true. The obit notes that he hosted the very first Saturday Night Live show, back in, what, 1975? I saw that show then, and then I saw it again about a year ago, when M. and I rented the first season on DVD. We had forgotten that there were Muppets, and the whole thing was an exercise in self-invention. We watched through Howard Shore and His All Nurse Band doing "Saint James Infirmary," which was about as far as my memory bank went, anyway.

So here, for my laughing ninth-grade self, are the INFAMOUS "seven dirty words you can't say on television," which were on an LP that my friends and I listened to until it about wore out and the routine starts with the slug line indicated above.

He winds up real good, like a pitcher.