punkinhead

Hey SG Friends and Neighbors,

I hope this finds you all well and good and gearing up for the holidays.

Its been a trying, demanding time for me but I'm doing my best. My day job has fundamentally changed at the same time my writing has been on the upswing. Along with some rocky personal times they have kept me away from many things, including updating my blog.

But I miss you, I miss being active in the community and while I still sneak on to check out the new sets I feel I haven't been giving my very favorite site - not to mention my awesome friends - the time it/ they deserve.

So . . . so everything is tradeoffs. Writing is going well - I have two projects "in the pipe" and an author I know - somebody who works in my field - got in touch with my publisher wanting to collaborate. Which makes me feel like a million bucks. As far as my writing goes all I want is to be a self-sustaining, full time writer with the respect of my peers. And this is a little step in that direction so that's very nice indeed.

Maya just went through one of the major hurdles you go through in a Graduate-level science degree. As you can imagine, it came with much wringing of hands and renting of garments. But its through and it's a big step towards getting those wacky little letters at the end of your name. I am very, very proud of my li'l Maya.

Its winter and I don't like to run in the cold so I'm getting podgy. I need a gym membership - its all I want for Xmas this year.

K, so I usually refrain from talking politics in this space- the pendulum just keeps on swinging back and forth, forever, and is really very dull - but I was very glad to witness the majority sea change we just did, if for no other reason than for Net Neutrality and the phasing out of the occupation of Iraq. Oh, and Rick Santorum is gone and that's good for the mood of he entire world, I think. I amazes me how much some folks are bothered by other folk's sex life.

So I need a literary agent - like yesterday. I have way too many publications under my belt to still be going it alone. Problem is I live in the boonies and only network organically. So this is me, reaching out along my net. Know anybody who wants to handle a children's book?

Well, Xmas is coming up and all I want this year is the same as all I want every year; a peaceful, joyous time with my family and friends. And ten minutes of slow head - the kind of lovin you loose yourself in, the kind that makes your entire week. Oh, and maybe a calendar with dinosaurs.

After months of almost zero socializing, I invited our neighbor over for my famous eggplant parm. She was delightful company, with lots of interesting stories. We really liked having her over and plan to do so again. Jeeze you are a long way towards being a hermit when having a new friend over rates this kind of excitement.

That's all my news, friends. Be well, take care and rock on.



take it light,

ph

Taoist thought of the day: Enjoy every sandwich.

Cat Report: Last year I got this huge packet of little plastic ninjas - white, grey and black. I took to setting them about the desk and office, making little battles on the bookshelves and printers and whatnot. And every day while I am gone, Vindaloo sets to knocking each and every one of them from its perch. No matter where I set them, in whatever configuration, I come home to a scattered, disheartened-looking pile of would-be shadow warriors spangled across my workspace. She does it every time I set them up without fail. Its like playing chess-by-mail with an autistic three year old who cheats. Poor Bacchus is feeling the arthritis, we fear, with the onset of the cold weather. I want to put him in little doggie leg warmers but oh how the others would laugh.

Factoid: I love disco. Once a week I try to put the dance/ disco station on the satellite radio at my work and rock it out all day. Favorite disco song? Born to Be Alive, not sure who does it. Fave all time disco artist? Donna Summer, the Queen.

Currently digging: vegetarian chilli, Issiac Asamov, Penn and Teller's Bullshit!, Harlan Ellison, Battlestar, bagel sandwiches with turkey and sprouts, early rising