Monthly Archive for October, 2007

We have five cats in the house right now: three from one litter, and a mother/daughter team. They’re all from the large semi-feral tribe that used to be around our old house. The mother is aunt to the three of a kind. All except the daughter are fixed.

The males were fixed as adults, meaning they’re otherwise sexually mature and still have all the urges. They don’t know what to do with them, but they have them.

The daughter is in heat right now, and it’s driving the males nuts. You’re not supposed to spay a cat in heat (it’s dangerous) so we’re riding it out.

Yesterday, one of the males tackled and mounted the female from his litter, who screamed as a result. This led me to yell “HUMP YOUR COUSIN, NOT YOUR SISTER!”

A few seconds later, what I had just said made me cringe.

I got my copy of Schulz and Peanuts today. You know, that “tell all” biography about how Charles Schulz was a miserable old man whose neuroses, clinical depression, and womanizing ways supposedly fueled his genius.

Just about anyone who’s ever read the early Peanuts stuff will read that above paragraph and go “duh.”

I’m looking forward to reading it.

In related matters, breaking out the pencil and Sharpie today for an upcoming TNAOQV storyline, it struck me how much pissed-off, middle-aged Charlie Brown looks like my old High School history teacher.

Since the holiday shopping season keeps creeping earlier and earlier each year, it’s necessary for us to also move up our plans. Thus, I’ve decided to schedule our first strategy session for this year’s War on Christmas for this coming Friday, October 19, 2007, at 8 PM in the Fairmont room at the Ramada Inn. Please RSVP if you will be attending.

The main agenda bullet points for this meeting will include:

• Use of eco-friendly defoliants in our attacks on pear trees, and mass release of partridges.

• The impact of BCE on Eight Maids a-Milking, and its usefulness as a propaganda technique
• Construction of new hotels, to guarantee Room at the Inn, or your stay is free.
• Potential exit strategies, as well as long-term planning for occupation at least through Ephiphany.
• Advance planning for “Operation: Kwanzaa Freedom” and “Operation: Enduring Chanukkah.” Remember that this is an equal-opportunity struggle.
• Selection of head for refreshment committee.

Any other items you wish to address, please mention them when you RSVP. If we have time, we will add them to the agenda.

Thank you, and hope to see you there!

A publisher asked for my full manuscript. Their website says that it usually takes eight weeks to review a full manuscript.

They’ve now had it for 11 weeks.

Considering I’m used to, at most, a one-week turnaround for rejection, I’m thinking this is a good sign. However, the continuing silence and anticipation is starting to get to me.