That's right, I'm back on the review band wagon. I just need to get it moving again.

I've got them started, and I have to say, the dog is doing her best to help out. Her idea of helping is to try to drink my hot chocolate and chew on the end of my pen while I'm writing, but it's the thought that counts.

That's what I keep telling myself anyway. If I don't believe that, then it means my dog is a glutton and uses me for my thumbs. I couldn't handle that.

I broke a milestone the other day and didn't even know it.

A rather large milestone for me, as I don't remember the last time I hit 200 pages on a work in progress and still had the joy of work in me.

Aside from the boogy dance I did in my pj's when I realized what I'd done, there's not too much else going on here. Severe weather, possible hail, which I can't remember if I've ever seen hail this far south, but that would explain the gray sky and almost monochromatic look to everything outside.

I finally submitted something. I boned up, grew a pair, whatever you want to call it, and submitted something of my own to people I don't know for their acceptance or rejection.

I sent it to Common Ties, a website one of my good friends uses to submit to sometimes. They seem like a decent site, and those who have read it tell me I've got a helluva of shot at getting it published. My anxiety doesn't listen to it, but that is neither here nor there. I'm told the up-and-down roller coaster of emotions is perfectly normal, so I'm glad to know I'm freaking out in the right order.

My husband left for another deployment. And Bush is calling for more support from Americans, and more patience, dealing with Iraq. Condelliza Rice is telling reporters how the sacrifices, the deaths, the separation, is worth Iraq. I'm glad people who have nothing, and no one, to lose in a war zone have deemed the deaths worth the end.
I can't agree with them. I will ALWAYS support the troops, but I can no longer support the war in Iraq. That might be like splitting hairs since its the troops who are fighting the war, but what a lot of people seem to forget is that the troops don't want to be there anymore than we want them there. They miss out on so much while they're gone.

And out with a whimper.

That's how I feel about some writers I came to love over time and now I can breeze by their displays at Barnes and Noble without so much as batting an eyelash. Why?

Because I'm disappointed with them. I fell out of love with their words when something that was a secondary plot line becomes the meat of the story and the actual plot is more like a condiment.

I won't point fingers, it's useless to say 'change it now or I'll hate you in they morning'.

We've just started 2007, and many people are making resolutions. Lose weight, write letters, tell the family how much you love them...

And then there's me. And those who are as nerdy as I am. I'm looking forward to a few new books (okay, a lot of new books) and two of my favorite bad habits: Discovery Channel's Dirty Job with Mike Rowe, and Deadliest Catch.

I'm a sucker for things like that.