I tell readers I'd always rather find a thoughtful reason for things to stay than a hasty reason to rip them out. Problem is, sometimes you end up spending half an hour looking for where you used a particular line you want to illustrate and find out you had to cut it.

You can probably guess exactly where I said to the screen "Yes, he absolutely fucking did."

Um. ...Can you make an homage to a story you've never read?

This is good, actually.

It means they don't understand what defeat looks like.

And they'll do their victory dance as the lava closes over their heads, and those who have a chance to comprehend that they have, in fact, lost, won't be able to grasp the concept at all.

I still call my flour/sugar canisters and containers of baking soda/powder "reagent jars," even though I don't observe perfect protocol.

I learned this word in high school, along with many other classmates, because one of us was unfortunate enough to have it for a last name and obnoxious enough to get the bullies to use a dictionary. I hope he's long since exercised his right to change it.

I always think it increases my enjoyment, but when I think about it afterward I often end up having missed a lot of the story in my pursuit of figuring things out. Which is entirely on me, and now that I know I do it, I've been making a conscious effort to just read.

Been dreading this for years...

One oven at my grandparents' broke one year, so half the meal was cooked in their ancient, tiny microwave. Sweet potatoes with pecans and marshmallows...came out looking like a dirty slime monster. Nobody wanted to touch it but me.

Perhaps more importantly, for me at least: I've been more ruthless in deleting emails now that they're all showing up and being harder to ignore. Makes it easier to decide what I ought to move to a more intentful account and what should stay with the pressed ham.

Guitar for me! Left side needs to be regularly shorn, right side needs to be evaluated for ridge wear (they split, so I have to keep ahead of them). Also crochet and the occasional bout of embroidery/sewing. *high five*