critters in the heat....

[lagilman]

Almost midnight, and despite some Whoa! Thunder, it's still over 80 degrees outside. Got a call from the stables this afternoon -- classes have been cancelled for tomorrow and Tuesday [they cancelled weekend riding, too]. I am totally in favor of this, obviously. Not only do I really not want to be working my ass off for an hour in 100 degree temps, I don't want any horse to, either! Instead there will be pasture-time, and hose-downs, and shady stalls with fans helping to whisk the sweat away. Much better for (wo)man and beast, yes. So, lesson on Friday instead.

And Cats Iz Weird. Pandora's "mommy mommy I don't feel well" mrips can be silenced by... using her as a pillow. *puzzlement* It seems counterintuitive to snuggle in this weather, and yet they like it. I not understand.

Two more days of this forecast. Ugh. *wilts* Will continue Operation Tropics -- up early, nap midday, up again at dusk. Much work to do...

Comments

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

Could you comment on this article from the point of view of a writer and a publisher?

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2008/06/09/top_writers_feel_heat_from_publishers_presses/?page=full

Oh, FFS....

[lagilman]

I think they need to shut up and sit down and write. Seriously. I know that some writers need more than twelve months to write a book, and even working at breakneck speed, editors and production folk need time to work their magic (or shove a less-than-polished book into the market, which helps no-one), but saying "oh noes, you ask TOO MUCH of me to write a book a year AND try to have a life, AND be creative!" so very gets up the nose of everyone [including their editors] busting their ass in any job every damn day of the year, for less money than these people are making. Fucking divas.

Boston's Robert B. Parker, creator of the Spenser detective series, publishes four books a year in several different series. "I don't know that I have an imagination that would allow me to write better than I do now, even if I had all the time in the world," Parker said. "Elmore Leonard said, 'If it takes you more than six months to write a book, you're not working.'

My thoughts about Parker's imagination left aside, I'd give it more than six months, especially if you're contracted for 100,000 words or more, but IMGDO the philosophy is dead on.

And yes, you do need to keep a steady market presence, the same way you can't juggle a television show all over the week without hurting its viewership to the point that people give up and stop watching. Literary novelists have gotten away with 3-5 years between books, but that's a whole different readership than the above-discssed thrillers (and, by extension, any genre/popular fiction)


That answer enough for ya? *grin* And now I have to go write the most-immediatly-due of my book-due-every-nine-months...

Re: Oh, FFS....

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

That's about what I was thinking, but I'm just an ignorant reader, not a writer nor an (fiction) editor.

[quarkwiz.livejournal.com]

Psst. We're doing ribs again this weekend. P said you should be there to have some. C is welcome too if she happens to be around. Interested? FYI, the central air is working beautifully. So well, in fact, that after yesterday's thunderstorm all the windows steamed up solid on the outside! The cats don't know how good they've got it...

[lagilman]

hrmmmmmmmm.....

I will be in touch. :-)

[alemya.livejournal.com]

This is going to sound like a weird aside about Pandora, but it struck me after reading your post. Is it possible that she might be trying to tell you that YOU don't feel well (and may not have picked up on it yet)? I've found that there are times, when I'm getting sick and haven't realized it, that our cats start acting strangely. They'll ONLY be happy when they're on or near me, giving "healing purr." Mom has a little Boston Terrier who, when Mom's hurting somewhere, will curl up against that part of her body and just stick to her like glue.

[lagilman]

oh, the point of Pandora being barometer-kitty was established years ago. But since I'm actually in really good shape right now.... (she actually has some icky crystals forming in her kidneys, which are making her uncomfortable, hence the meds and new diet mentioned earlier. But that doesn't explain why both cats want to farking cuddle in this weather!).

[jennifer-dunne.livejournal.com]

Actually, I once read an analysis of the whole cat-on-lap-in-the-heat thing. Cats transfer heat through their pawpads. Humans (even HOT humans) have a lower body temperature than cats. Thus, to the hot kitty, the human is refreshingly cool. AND liable to provide ear scratching as a bonus. Whereas curling up on a tile/wood floor or anything else that at first glance would be even cooler than the human, rapidly heats up to kitty temperature, and ceases to provide cooling. Plus, no ear scratching.

[lyonessnyc.livejournal.com]

It's way after midnight, it's still 91 degrees in the apartment, and my fuzzballs want to cuddle too. I took a nap earlier, and woke to discover my big ol' Brucie (the one in the icon) firmly snuggled into my armpit and my terrortortie Psyche curled up between my knees. Needless to say, I didn't let them stay long. They're also shedding, and the feeling of loose cat fur clinging to glistening skin is just...ugh. Bleah. [sigh]

I know they love me. I love them too. But it's too friggin' HOT!!!

I think we may break down this weekend and actually buy an AC unit.