I had to clean part of my keyboard last night, after a spewing accident. See, I keep making this grave error – I read Ray Garton’s little updates on Facebook while I have a mouthful of coffee, coke, ice tea, water – and damned if it doesn’t always end up on the keyboard.

Anyway, this was right between hanging up the editor’s hat for the night (I can only do so much before I want to strangle something), and chatting with MJ2 (two of the brains in Rhada McKai’s head) about what selections of M’s New Bedlam poetry to use in The Dark. I’m taking June to do the deed with The Dark. I’ve just got no choice: they’re bothering me when I try to sleep, these characters. This project has gone from collab to single author (me) to collab again. It’s getting fleshier, and even the fourth in our little group has finally opened his mouth about his contributions. M is working the poetry of various sections (she’s so much better at writing ritual-ese than I), J2 is going to handle dialogue after-the-fact (fixing), continuity and research, S is dealing with illustration when he has time.

This could be good. After our little spat, things are getting back to normal and it’s better, I think. Fair warning – I’m thinking of creating a theme that uses bits from both The Dark, and 1 For Sorrow. So if something changes here, it’s not out of the blue or anything. Cuz, yeah.

Anyway, keyboard.

In a lot of ways I miss having an ergonomic keyboard, but I realize (er, remember) that it was far more annoying to clean than this regular one. I didn’t have it long enough to wear any paint off the keys, though. This one is 28 months old, and is missing half the A, a third of the S and O, part of the top of the E and bottom of the L. The H is kinda faded. o_O hehehe

If there weren’t other keys that are beginning to show signs of wear, I’d have to wonder if I’ve over-typed a certain word I usually reserve for driving or in reference to my ex-husband.

BTW, ya’ll can blame Murv for the o_O. He started it.

I actually did manage to get some work done, too, as well as stick a bunch of things on my “I want” list at Amazon. I know, I know – I’m supposed to be boycotting. I’ve realized that the lack of bookstores within easy driving distance (the rack of crap at wal-mart does not count for books) has left me with little choice. Amazon is the most affordable option..for now. I try to buy direct from the publishers when possible (can you tell I read more small pub than anything else?) but sometimes it’s just not feasible (lulu), or available.

I have to say, right here-right now, I desperately miss FP Grove. I wish I had the means and the wherewithal to open a store. Can you imagine me owning my own bookstore? I could sniff every book as I unpacked. LOL! Literary blow, stuffed into the binding in the middle of every book and magazine…

BTW – Ray Garton says: Do you think Britney Spears looks at Lindsay Lohan and thinks, “Oh, she has SO got her shit together.”

Now, back to the grindstone. I’d do something bloody for a good inking pen right now. Kevin, put that eyebrow down and stop smirking. x-P

(Today’s post brought to you by the letters E, L, O, H, S, A and the number 9.)