brrr....

It's 7 degrees. -5 with wind chill. Clear skies, no sign of snow. High today not expected to reach 20 degrees.

I may cancel all plans and work from bed today.


ETA: we were out of dry cat food, so I hauled myself out. 18 degrees as a high, and falling again. At that point, it almost doesn't matter -- cold is cold is frozen. But home again, the cats have food [and also cosmic catnip because I am a good mommy] and back on the sofa, where I intend to stay until it gets back up to a reasonable 25 degrees, damn it.

David Letterman's Top 10 list: 'Demands of the Striking Writers"

as delivered by striking writers themselves

 
10. 'Complimentary tote bag with next insulting contract offer'
- Tim Carvell, from 'The Daily Show.'
9. 'No rollbacks in health benefits, so I can treat the hypothermia I caught on the picket lines'
- Laura Krafft, from 'The Colbert Report.'
8. 'Full salary and benefits for my imaginary writing partner, Lester'
- Melissa Salmons, daytime TV writer.
7. 'Members of the AMPTP must explain what the hell AMPTP stands for'
- Warren Leight,'Law & Order' writer
6. 'No disciplinary action taken against any writer caught having inappropriate relationship with a copier'
- Jay Katsir, 'Colbert Report.'
5. 'I'd like a date with a woman'
- Steve Bodow, from 'The Daily Show.'
(LAG says: imagine this done in full Animal-voice. WOman!)
4. 'Hazard pay for breaking up fights on 'The View''
- writer Nora Ephron.
3. 'I'm not an accountant, but instead of getting 4 cents for a $20 DVD, how about we get $20 for a 4-cent DVD?'
- G. Johnfrido, 'Law & Order.'
2. 'I just want to remind everyone that we're on strike, so none of us are responsible for this lame list'
- Chris Albers from 'Conan O'Brien'
1. 'Producers must immediately remove their heads from their asses'
- author Alan Zweibel.

-(courtesy Associated Press)


7, 4, and 1 had me howling with glee. Do not piss off writers, for you are crunchy and good with a side of mockery.

*facepalm*

Various news outlets report Huckabee winning the GOP side in Iowa.

Oh, Iowa, Iowa, Iowa...

ETA: Obama on the Dem side, but it looks like it might have been a squeaker.

oh wow, look! A post of writing content!

1975 words today on TPEMB. I'm not happy with the way this chapter ends -- it's not as strong or sharp as it should be -- but the bones are there. I know the characters, I know where things need to happen, and why. And everything that leads up to it is, methinks, not only strong but good. I need to let the last scene sit for a few hours, then go back and reread it, figure out what works and what doesn't, and then draw out the strong and pare back the weak.

Either way, three chapters done, and (I hope) headed in the right direction. I feel pretty good about the past day's work, even with the iffy ending -- the world is coming together for me, and the characters are humming in my ear. And details are appearing that weren't in the outline, which is always a good sign...