One day a few weeks back, a small group of us were on break at work, hanging out on the handicapped ramp, enjoying the clear night sky.
(Okay, I was copping a smoke. Yes, I indulge in The Evil Weed, but I’m working on it…).

In the course of the break, we watched two young men leave the building by the handicapped exit. They wore the mandatory doo-rags, spoke into cell phones, and sported very low-slung baggy pants. They seemed to be in perfect health, and were holding their crotches as young men are wont to do.

And because I’ve nothing better to think about at work, for a few minutes it bothered me: why were these perfectly healthy YOUNG guys taking a longer, circular way around the building instead of the stairs on their way home?

The answer finally came to us. They weren’t holding their crotches. They were holding their PANTS up. And with one hand holding their jeans up, and the other using the cell phone, they were afraid that, if they took the jarring steps, their pants would fall down.

I felt much better once I realized they’d taken the right exit after all.

It may be me, but things seem EVER so quiet on the boards lately.

No squabbles, authors behaving badly, no big “call” news—even the blogs seem very slow (not that mine’s been on fire either…)

Maybe it’s the winter blues.
Hang on, everyone—Spring is coming!

Meanwhile, I’m doing stretches at the CHICAS site today.

Are they not the cutest, most adorable things EVER??!!

I’m so glad to see people doing things that will, hopefully, secure their future.

Wonder if we have sense enough to do the same for ourselves?

Ed Jones was in trouble.
He forgot his wedding anniversary.

His wife was really, really angry. She told him “Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in less then 6 seconds, AND IT HAD BETTER BE THERE!!”

The next morning Ed got up unusually early and left for work.

When his wife woke up, she looked out the window and sure enough–there was a box gift-wrapped in the middle of the driveway!

Confused, the wife put on her robe and ran out to the driveway and brought the box back into the house. She opened it…

and found a brand new bathroom scale.

Ed has been missing since Friday.

…at the CHICA’S site today.

Sometimes it’s just hard to be strict with yourself, y’know?

It’s called “The Rose Legacy.”
It’s a story I’ve been dabbling with since last fall on and off, and I like the premise very much. A bit of erotica, a dash of paranormal, and a wee sprinkling of horror, just enough to give it an edge.

I’ve been mulling over a particular paragraph, trying to decide whether it really belongs in the story, or whether I’m simply in love with the prose.
It’s nice prose.
But is it necessary?

I did try taking it out, and it didn’t make a huge difference in the flow of the storyline. And I suppose that means it doesn’t have to be there.

But it is nice prose.

And then I worry if I continue being too lenient about the cutting I’ll do it again and again, and the manuscript will get fat and lazy.

Sometimes it’s just hard to be strict with yourself, y’know?